Chandler Happier as Ram Backup : Pro football: Quarterback gets start today but vows unity behind Miller.

Today’s exhibition game with the Green Bay Packers at Camp Randall Stadium will let the Rams rehearse for the regular season, which explains why Chris Chandler will replace Chris Miller at quarterback.

Miller, known both for his accurate passes and physical misfortune, will miss the game because of a sore abdominal muscle and a tender right knee. The injuries are not considered serious, but they highlight the Rams’ need to employ a second quarterback with starting capabilities.

“That’s no secret,” said Chandler, who was 9-4 as a starting rookie quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in 1988. “I thought this was the best place for a chance to help a team out, but I didn’t look solely at the fact that Chris has gotten hurt a lot the last few years.

“I wanted to work with somebody who would make it easy to be around, and Chris is real easy to be around. That played a big part in my decision to come here. If nothing else, we’ll have a fun season.”

Chandler left Indianapolis because he wasn’t going to have the chance to play once Jeff George came on the payroll.

“After my first year in Indy, I thought, look out Johnny Unitas; I thought I was going to be there for the next 12 years,” Chandler said. “But one bad cut on the turf, and boom, there goes an anterior cruciate ligament.

“I felt Indy gave up on me before I was able to show I was back with my knee. They shut the door too soon.”

Traded to Tampa Bay, Chandler criticized the Buccaneer management for playing Vinny Testaverde at his expense, and a few days later he was cut.

“I apologized the next day, but sometimes you can’t take things back,” Chandler said. “Ray Perkins traded for me and said he was going to give Vinny one more year. At the end of that year, Perkins got fired, Richard Williamson took over and I don’t think he shared the same opinion.”

The Phoenix Cardinals claimed Chandler off waivers and he became a starter, then wanted out after playing behind Steve Beuerlein.

“I needed to get out of the situation I was in,” Chandler said. “Chris is a good friend, which makes this situation so much easier than the other one.”

A year ago, Chandler told the media in Phoenix: “I know I’m not a backup.”

Miller, however, is Coach Chuck Knox’s no-doubt-about-it starter, and Chandler is a backup again.

“I had a chance to play and played well in Phoenix, but when your team is 4-12, you get blamed,” Chandler said.

After being sentenced to hard time at Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Phoenix, Chandler is glad to be with the Rams.

“It’s the first time I’ve been with a head coach, a quality and proven head coach,” Chandler said.

“Ron Meyer was fun to play for because training camp was easy, but as for his honesty and integrity, there wasn’t any.

“I got along with Perkins because he traded a No. 1 pick for me, but he was fired. Then I got a receivers coach in Williamson.

“And in Phoenix, Joe Bugel was a great offensive line coach, but the jury is still out on how good a head coach he was going to be.”

Chandler gets the chance to play against the Packers, and a chance to play a lot because of injuries to Miller and T.J. Rubley, who has a sore arm.

In addition to Miller, the Rams will not play defensive end Robert Young (groin), cornerback Steve Israel (hamstring), wide receiver Sean LaChapelle (ankle), wide receiver Todd Kinchen (knee), running back David Lang (knee) and cornerback Darryl Henley (bail restrictions).

Running back Jerome Bettis, who is sound, will also not play because it’s just an exhibition game.