PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Lofton, 37, Cut in Youth Movement

The Rams released wide receiver James Lofton on Monday and re-signed linebacker Brett Collins, who had been cut last week.

The Rams had signed Lofton, 37, on Sept. 22 after he was released by the Raiders. He caught one pass for 16 yards, and according to the Rams-Falcons’ game summary, he did not play a down in Thursday night’s game.

“We wanted to go with the younger players,” Coach Chuck Knox said.

Knox said Ernie Jones will work as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver with Todd Kinchen filling the fourth spot and rookie Sean LaChapelle, who is still looking for his first NFL catch, the fifth position.

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The Rams practiced without four of their defensive linemen Monday. Sean Gilbert stood on the sidelines nursing a sore hamstring, but is expected to return Wednesday, Knox said.

Marc Boutte has a sore knee, Tony Woods a sore hamstring and Robert Young continues to recover from a sprained knee. Knox said he does not expect Young, who has seven sacks, to play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Running back David Lang practiced for the first time since injuring a knee in training camp, but he said later he is preparing to play against San Francisco in two weeks.

Tight end Pat Carter also returned to practice after a foot injury, and he is slated to play against the Lions.

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Cornerback Robert Bailey, responding to a CBS report Sunday that had him becoming angry with Rams’ assistant Joe Vitt after the game with Atlanta, said, “That’s 100% false. He wasn’t even there. I mean after I was screaming he was the one there who was calming me down.”

CBS credited its report to unnamed Ram players, but reporters in the room at the time said Vitt was nowhere near Bailey when he became agitated.

There was also a report on local TV that Bailey had raised a chair and aimed it at linebacker Roman Phifer.

“I ride home every day with Phifer, so it definitely wasn’t him,” Bailey said.

Witnesses saw Bailey picking up a chair and then being restrained while attempting to throw it.

“I was trying to throw the chair or break it against a locker,” Bailey said. “I was just frustrated. I wasn’t trying to hit anybody. I was mad at myself, not at anyone else.”