PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Miller to Start Against 49ers

Chris Chandler’s sprained left ankle was still too sore for him to practice Thursday, and Coach Chuck Knox named Chris Miller the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game at San Francisco.

Chandler wouldn’t rule himself out of playing in at least a backup role, but it appears the ankle will keep him out.

“It’s getting better but it’s too sore to do anything with it,” he said.

Chandler played catch with trainers during practice, backpedaled and tripped over an orange construction cone at the edge of the field. He jokingly faulted trainer Jim Anderson “for not telling me it was there.”

*

Cornerback Todd Lyght has the task of covering San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice on Sunday. How does Lyght think Rice stacks up against some of the other receivers he has covered this season--Atlanta’s Andre Rison, Green Bay’s Sterling Sharpe and the Raiders’ Tim Brown?

“Overall, Rice is the best as far as speed, agility, strength, playing the ball in the air and his ability to play without the ball,” Lyght said. “A lot of big runs that Ricky Watters has this year is because of great blocking by John Taylor and Rice.

“A lot of guys with Rice’s talent might take a play off if the play isn’t called to them. He doesn’t do that. He goes downfield and throws the block. That’s what makes them successful.”

Rice has tortured the Rams with big plays. He caught 11 passes for 147 yards in the 49ers’ 34-19 victory over the Rams in September.

*

Knox ruled out third-down back Johnny Bailey, who has a strained stomach muscle, for Sunday’s game. Right guard Leo Goeas, who has missed the last two games because of the same injury, returned to practice and said he will be ready Sunday. Wide receiver Flipper Anderson missed practice for the second consecutive day because of a thigh bruise but is expected to ready for the game, Knox said.