PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Lang Returns After Long Layoff

Fullback David Lang is expected to practice today for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage damage July 25.

Lang, a third-year player out of Northern Arizona, was projected as the team’s starting fullback until suffering the injury in training camp.

After sitting out nearly three months, he has gone through light workouts in the past couple of weeks.

“As far as the injury, I didn’t think it was that serious,” said Lang, who rushed for 203 yards in 33 carries and made 11 starts last season. “Everything is coming along. It’s a lot like (wide receiver) Todd Kinchen’s knee injury, and it took him five months to get back.”

How eager is Lang to get back to practice?

“I’m trying to get into fights and get back to my normal self,” he said.

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Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert is fourth in the NFL--and second in the NFC--with 7.5 sacks. Defensive end Robert Young is fifth in the league with seven sacks, despite sitting out the last three games because of a knee injury. . . . The 40-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 31 marked the first time since 1986 that quarterback Jim Everett or tackle Jackie Slater had not played in a regular-season game, breaking a streak of 118 games. Everett was benched and Slater sat out because of a torn pectoral muscle.