PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Team Won’t Rush Gilbert’s Return

The Rams are being cautious not to rush the return of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who sprained his left ankle against the Raiders and missed last week’s exhibition loss to San Diego.

Gilbert didn’t practice Monday and wasn’t optimistic when asked if he could return to practice this week or perhaps be ready for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

“It’s horrible, terrible, no thank you,” Gilbert said of his heavily taped ankle. “It’s day-to-day right now.

“Time heals everything, and we can’t rush it if it doesn’t heal right. Just standing here right now, it hurts.”

Coach Chuck Knox said Gilbert won’t practice until Thursday at the earliest.

But Knox expects defensive end Fred Stokes, who missed all four exhibition games with a sprained left knee, to be ready for Sunday’s game.

“He has to be ready,” Knox said. “We’re thin on that defensive line right now, no question about that.”

The Rams cut tackle Marc Boutte on Sunday, and David Rocker is the favorite over rookie D’Marco Farr to start if Gilbert isn’t ready.

Gilbert’s absence would be a major blow to the Rams’ first-string defense, which provided little in the way of a pass rush in the exhibition season and allowed 58 points in the last five quarters.

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As expected, the Rams signed free-agent tight end Ron Middleton on Monday and cut tight end Travis McNeal to make room for him on the roster.

Middleton was cut by the Washington Redskins after missing most of the exhibition season with a pulled hamstring.

He will back up starter Troy Drayton and is expected to help make up for the loss of run-blocking tight end Pat Carter, who signed with Houston in the off-season.

“Ron gives us a guy who can cover up some people,” said tight ends coach Rennie Simmons, who coached Middleton in Washington. “We needed some backup there, and he can help us real quick. We need a quick fix there.”

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Third-string quarterback Tommy Maddox began making the transition from the Broncos to the Rams when he put his house up for sale in Aurora, Colo., and practiced for the first time in a Ram uniform.

“It has been pretty hectic,” said Maddox, a former UCLA standout for whom the Rams traded a fourth-round draft pick. “It will be nice once my wife and daughter get here and we find an apartment. Once that’s taken care of, the rest is pretty easy.”

Running the scout squad, Maddox showed a nice touch on a couple deep passes, but was intercepted by linebacker Joe Kelly and free safety Anthony Newman on two shorter routes.

“I don’t think it will take me that long to pick up the offense,” Maddox said. “Now that we’re in the season, I don’t know how many reps I’m going to get, but as far as the concepts, it won’t take me very long.”

The Cardinals are expected to look at quarterback Jamie Martin, who cleared waivers after the Rams cut him Saturday to make room on the roster for Maddox.

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Knox said the Rams didn’t claim anyone off the waivers. Boutte and strong safety Deral Boykin, cut by the Rams on Sunday, were claimed by the Washington Redskins. Tailback Cleveland Gary, also cut Sunday, cleared waivers and can sign with any team. Dallas reportedly is interested in him.

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In an attempt to curb penalties, Knox has brought in retired NFL officials to monitor the team’s practices three times a week. . . . Wide receiver Todd Kinchen re-strained his hamstring and is expected to miss a week. .. . Former Raider Joe Kelly, signed as a free agent in the off-season, appears to have locked up the starting left outside linebacker position. . . . Marquez Pope practiced as the starting strong safety in place of Boykin.