RAM NOTEBOOK : Gilbert Sits to Give Knox Look at Others

Although defensive tackle Sean Gilbert was nursing a sore knee, Ram Coach Chuck Knox said he didn’t hold Gilbert out of a 20-19 loss to the Raiders Saturday night only because of the injury.

Gilbert, a second-year player from Pittsburgh, hurt his knee in practice early in the week but continued practicing.

But Saturday night, he watched from the sidelines in street clothes, replaced in the starting lineup by backup David Rocker.

“Sean, I didn’t want to play,” Knox said. “I wanted to rest him and see some other people in there (at his position).”

Rocker finished with two tackles.

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Hang on: Ram running back Cleveland Gary, playing in his first game since ending his contract holdout, said he was “a little rusty” in his start against the Raiders.

He rushed for 34 yards in seven carries but couldn’t handle a bad pitch from quarterback Jim Everett in the first quarter. The fumble, credited to Everett, set up the Raiders’ first touchdown.

“I was a little rusty,” Gary said, “but other than that, I felt pretty good.”

It was the first full-contact play for Gary this season. He said he wasn’t worried about getting his timing down with his linemen.

“It will come around,” he said. “We play 16 games, and it isn’t that difficult to do. I’m just trying to pick up where I left off last year.”

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Good catch: Wide receiver Sam Graddy, traded from the Raiders to the Rams for a conditional draft choice earlier this week, made the most of his only opportunity for revenge against his former team.

Graddy, a 1984 Olympic silver medalist in the 100 meters, ran for 24 yards on an end-around in the second quarter, setting up a 28-yard field goal by Tony Zendejas.

“I had a funny feeling starting off against my old team,” Graddy said. “It was different than I thought it would be. It took me longer to get fired up for them.

“I just wanted to get the ball in my hands. I only carried once and didn’t get anything on special teams, so I took advantage of my one opportunity, I guess.”

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Rookie running back Russell White, on his one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter: “Loved it. My first NFL TD. I’ll always remember it.”