PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Newman Suffers Dislocated Finger

Starting free safety Anthony Newman dislocated the little finger on his right hand while diving for a ball in practice.

Strong safety Marquez Pope probably will be moved to Newman’s position if Newman, listed as questionable, is unable to play Sunday against the New York Giants. Rookie Toby Wright would assume Pope’s duties. Rookie Keith Lyle also figures to play in obvious passing situations.

*

Offensive line coach Jim Erkenbeck blamed himself for the arm injury that will sideline tackle Jackie Slater for at least three weeks.

“Fatigue; that’s why it happened,” Erkenbeck said. “I usually don’t go away from my plan of giving him a quarter of rest, but he was having such a good game against Reggie White (of the Packers at Green Bay last Sunday).

“If you could have just focused on those two players--that was one hell of a battle. I’ve been coaching against Reggie now for 10 years and that was as good a job I’ve seen done on him in his own park--until the last two minutes.”

*

Tests on the sore shoulders of defensive tackle Sean Gilbert were inconclusive Wednesday, Coach Chuck Knox said, because of Gilbert’s size and the inability of the medical machinery to get a proper reading on Gilbert. Knox said Gilbert was being sent to a different hospital for further tests. . . . Food poisoning kept quarterback Tommy Maddox from practicing Thursday. . . . Tackle Darryl Ashmore and defensive tackle David Rocker exchanged punches near the end of practice. . . . Brad Fichtel worked at right guard and appears to be the leading candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

*

The Rams reported that 31,510 tickets remain for Sunday’s game at Anaheim Stadium, so it will not be televised locally.