PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Anderson Called Threat Again

Coach Chuck Knox continues to praise wide receiver Flipper Anderson, who had a disappointing 1993 season.

“He makes more outstanding catches every day,” Knox said. “He’s going down and digging balls out of the ground and going up and making great catches.”

Anderson caught only one touchdown pass in the final 10 games last season as quarterback Jim Everett struggled. But Anderson has shown promise as a deep threat again with the acquisition of free-agent quarterback Chris Miller.

“I think Miller has more of a feel for the deep ball,” Anderson said.

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Miller and tailback Jerome Bettis, who sat out last Saturday’s exhibition opener, will start Saturday night’s game against the New England Patriots at Anaheim Stadium, Knox said.

Miller sat out the 14-6 loss to the Green Bay Packers because of sore stomach muscles but returned to practice Monday. Knox simply held Bettis out of the opener.

“We haven’t decided how much work they will get,” Knox said.

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Joe Vitt, who coaches the safeties, said he is pleased with the progress of rookie Toby Wright. Wright had been projected as a starter but is playing behind second-year Deral Boykin.

“There was a rap on Toby coming out of (Nebraska) that maybe he wasn’t a quick learner and couldn’t learn the defense,” Vitt said. “Toby has made no mental errors in the game and he makes very few errors in practice. He’s an aware, intelligent player, period.”

Wright, a top run stopper at Nebraska, was a second-round draft pick in April. Michael Stewart, last year’s starter at strong safety, signed with Miami as a free agent in the off-season and backup Pat Terrell signed with the Jets.

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The Rams waived defensive tackle Jeff Esters, a second-year player from Pittsburgh. . . . Defensive end Robert Young, who sat out last week’s game because of a groin injury, returned to practice Monday and is scheduled to start on Saturday. . . . Tailback David Lang is expected to play Saturday after sitting out the opener because of a knee problem. . . . Reports from San Francisco said the 49ers are expected to invite former Ram tailback Russell White to a tryout next week. White, a third-round pick by the Rams last season, was cut at the start of training camp.