PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Punter Landeta Signs for One Year

The Miami Dolphins took a look at punter Sean Landeta and chose not to sign him Thursday, but Friday the Rams gave him a one-year contract without a tryout.

“We’ve seen him kick . . . we know what he can do,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “He’s been doing it for a number of years, and we’ve been looking for more consistency.”

The Rams released punter Paul McJulien, who ranked last in the league with a 37.9-yard average. Landeta, who was released earlier in the week by the New York Giants, averaged 42.1.

Giant Coach Dan Reeves signed former Denver punter Mike Horan to replace Landeta.

Landeta, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery last December, averaged 43.4 in his first eight seasons for the Giants.

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Defensive end Robert Young, who had seven sacks in the first five games before suffering a knee injury, will return to the starting lineup against Atlanta.

“It feels good right now, but then I haven’t been up against major competition yet,” Young said. “I’m still going to wear my leg brace and that might put me a step or so off, but I’ll be back in there.”

Despite sitting out the last three games and a portion of another, Young’s seven sacks put him fourth in the NFC, one-half sack behind Sean Gilbert for the team lead.

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Knox said tackles Jackie Slater and Robert Jenkins, guard Chuck Belin and cornerback Courtney Griffin will be inactive for Sunday’s game.

Wide receiver Ernie Jones sat out practice because of a sore thigh muscle. Running back Jerome Bettis, however, put in a full day’s work after suffering from flu most of the week.