PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Knox Is Expected to Select Rubley

Coach Chuck Knox is expected to name T. J. Rubley as the Rams’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at San Francisco, The Times learned Tuesday night.

Although no formal announcement was made, there were strong indications within the club that Rubley, a ninth-round pick in the 1992 draft, will replace Jim Everett, the starter since 1986.

Everett has started 87 consecutive games, the longest streak of any current NFL quarterback. He was ineffective Sunday in a 16-13 loss to Detroit, completing only two of nine passes for 12 yards and an interception.

Knox pulled Everett in the third quarter in favor of Rubley, who completed 12 of 17 passes for 151 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

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Tackle Jackie Slater will not only miss the 49er game because of a torn pectoral muscle, but he’ll also miss an opportunity to break the record for most games by an offensive lineman. He’s tied with Jeff Van Note and Mike Webster at 245.

“I’m a little disappointed in it,” he said. “We’ve been counting the games for two years now. I could think of nothing better to happen to me than to go to San Francisco, beat the 49ers, break the record and having a big party.”

Slater said he tore the muscle blocking on a draw play. Team doctors prescribed rest for this week and the following bye week, he said.

“I can’t stretch it out because I’ll stretch the tear and not let it heal,” he said.

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The Rams have converted on 35 of 88 third downs (39.8%) this season to 50 of 106 (47.3%) for their opponents. In their two victories, the Rams converted 17 of 31 (54.8%). . . . The 49ers rank in the top four in eight offensive categories, including No. 1 rankings in yards gained (375.1), first downs per game (21.8) and average yards per rush (5.0).