PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Rubley’s Season Ends With Bad Elbow

With the pain and swelling continuing in his right elbow, Ram quarterback T.J. Rubley’s season ended Tuesday.

The Rams put Rubley on injured reserve and cut seven other players, among them wide receiver Nate Lewis, who signed a one-year, $375,000 deal with the Chicago Bears hours later. The Rams trimmed their roster to 60 players, and seven more must go by Sunday.

Rubley has missed most of training camp with tendinitis in the elbow of his throwing arm. He said arthroscopic surgery has become “a viable option.”

“If there’s no nerve damage, then it could be six to eight weeks (out),” said Rubley, who started seven games last season but was fighting for the third-string position this year.

By putting him on injured reserve, the Rams lose Rubley, a third-year player, for the entire season but his salary will still count under the league’s new salary cap.

Cutting Lewis saves the Rams most of his $600,000 salary, but it cost them the fourth-round pick they traded to the San Diego Chargers to get him in the off-season.

Besides Lewis, the Rams also cut cornerback Terry Taylor, safety Cliff Hicks, linebacker Andy Mason, defensive end Kevin Patrick, center Brad Fichtel and defensive tackle Maa Tanuvasa.

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The Rams made changes in their starting defense after injuries depleted their pass rush in a 29-20 exhibition loss to the Raiders on Saturday.

Coach Chuck Knox named rookie Brad Ottis, a second-round draft pick, as the starter at right end for Thursday night’s exhibition finale at San Diego.

Ottis replaces Gerald Robinson, who had started three games in place of injured Fred Stokes, before spraining his left ankle.

Stokes, who had a sprained left knee, returned to practice Monday but Knox plans to hold him out Thursday.

Rookie free-agent D’Marco Farr of Washington appears to be in line for the the starting right tackle spot in place of the injured Sean Gilbert, who also has a sprained left ankle.

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The Save the Rams task force today will unveil its plan to buy part of the team for $50 million. It includes revamping Anaheim Stadium and building a new corporate headquarters and practice facility.