PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Rubley Decides Against Elbow Surgery

After being examined by doctors Wednesday, backup quarterback T.J. Rubley said he will not undergo surgery on his injured right elbow in the near future.

Rubley, put on the injured reserve list Tuesday, said slight improvement in the elbow persuaded him to delay arthroscopic surgery, which he thinks is “inevitable.”

“The primary focus right now is to let the nerve return back to normal,” said Rubley, who has missed most of training camp with tendinitis in his elbow. “My gut feeling is that I will (have surgery) but not anytime soon.”

Rubley started seven games last season but was battling Jamie Martin for the third spot on the depth chart this season behind starter Chris Miller and backup Chris Chandler.

*

The Rams are 0-3 in exhibition play and are trying to avoid their second-consecutive winless preseason, but Coach Chuck Knox plans on keeping some of his starters out of tonight’s game at San Diego.

“I don’t know how much winning this last game is going to bolster confidence”’ Knox said. “Some of those guys might not even be here after this game.”

The Rams must cut seven players by Sunday, and Knox wants to keep his starters injury free.

“We need to sort some people out on the offensive line, with the running backs and defensive backfield,” Knox said. “I would like to take a step up and see some improvement and win it if we can playing the people we have to play.”

Knox said offensive linemen Chuck Belin and Keith Loneker, and running backs James Bostic and Howard Griffith will get plenty of playing time.

“We have some decisions to make,” he said.

*

One of the players fighting for a roster spot is safety Marquez Pope, who returns to San Diego tonight after the Chargers had traded him to the Rams for a sixth-round pick in the off-season.

Pope is one of five safeties on the Rams’ roster and is listed as a backup to Deral Boykin at strong safety. Pope is hoping to secure a spot with a good game against his former team.

*

Knox said four injured players won’t play tonight: defensive ends Fred Stokes (knee) and Gerald Robinson (ankle), defensive tackle Sean Gilbert and cornerback Darryl Henley (hamstring). Henley said he expects to return to practice by Sunday. . . . The Rams’ passing game could get a break against the Chargers’ defense, which has given up an average of 260 passing yards a game. . . . The Chargers will try to avoid going winless in the exhibition season for the first time in club history.