PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Chandler Gets Nod Over Miller

Coach Chuck Knox made it official Wednesday--Chris Chandler will start at quarterback Sunday against the Denver Broncos in place of Chris Miller, who’s still groggy from a concussion he suffered 10 days ago against New Orleans.

Miller returned to practice Wednesday and split time between backup and running the scout squad with Tommy Maddox.

“Chris hasn’t been able to do anything the past 10 days and threw a little bit on Tuesday,” Knox said. “We need to see how he responds to his workout today.”

Knox said he is hoping to “get some continuity” at the quarterback position for the second half of the season. So is Chandler taking advantage of this opportunity to establish himself as the starter?

“All that takes care of itself,” Chandler said. “I have to look at it in terms of beating Denver. If I look at it any other way, we’re going to lose the game.”

Chandler started in place of Miller in Week 4 at Kansas City, leading the Rams to a 16-0 victory, but sprained his left ankle the following week against Atlanta. Miller has started the past three games, and the Rams have gone 1-2.

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Denver has been criticized for building up its offense in the off-season and not concentrating enough on the defense. The Broncos signed free agent wide receiver Anthony Miller and traded for wide receiver Mike Pritchard in the off-season, and signed tailback Leonard Russell after the season started.

Denver started the season 0-4 and 1-5 before beating two of the AFC’s best teams--San Diego (7-1) and Cleveland (6-2). The defense, ranked last in the NFL, gave up an average 34 points a game over the first four weeks and the Broncos lost three games by a touchdown or less.

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Fourteen Denver players are limited by injuries, including Russell, who is questionable for Sunday’s game because of the left ankle he sprained Sunday against Cleveland. Said Coach Wade Phillips after Wednesday’s practice: “It takes two guys to carry the injury list and one got a hernia.” Because of injuries to the offensive line, the Broncos signed former Raider tackle Ken Lanier. . . . Bern Brostek, the Rams’ starting center, got the cast off his broken right leg but still isn’t expected to return for three weeks. . . . The Broncos put Pritchard on the injured reserve list Wednesday because of a lacerated kidney suffered Sept. 23 during practice.