St. Louis Rams sign veteran receiver Wes Welker

The St. Louis Rams signed wide receiver Wes Welker on Monday, hoping he can help them dig out of a third-down problem.

The Rams are four for 37 on third down conversions in the last three games. They won the first two thanks to a stout defense but lost 21-18 in overtime at Minnesota on Sunday.

The Rams had the 34-year-old Welker in for a workout earlier in the day. He had 49 catches for a career-low 9.5-yard average last year with Denver, became a free agent and has not played this season. He topped 100 receptions five of six seasons between 2006 and 2012 but has a history of concussions.

Rams’ Bailey suspended

Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey was suspended four games by the league for violating its substance abuse policy. The third-year pro, who has 12 catches for 182 yards this season, served a two-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs last season.

Coach Jeff Fisher said he has had “numerous conversation” was “very, very disappointed in his choices” and has had “numerous conversations” Bailey. “He understands that this is his last go-around,” Fisher said. “If he wants to flourish in this league, have a career in this league, he’s going to have to change his lifestyle.”

Last week, Rams running back Trey Watts was suspended indefinitely for violating the substance abuse policy.

Panthers to replace banner

The Carolina Panthers say they plan to replace a banner that belonged to a Green Bay Packers fan and which Cam Newton ripped down before the Sunday’s game. “We’ve reached out to the owner of the banner and we’re in the process of providing a replacement,” Scott Paul, Panthers executive director of stadium operations, said on the team’s website.

The banner, which read “North Carolina Cheeseheads” and had a Packers logo on it, belonged to Mike Dobs, a Wisconsin native who now lives in Fayetteville, N.C. Dobs told ABC 11 in Fayetteville he spent $500 on the banner and $3,700 on tickets to attend the game.

Tomsula noncommittal

San Francisco Coach Jim Tomsula said he wants to talk to his players and staff over the next few days before revealing his plans at quarterback. Blaine Gabbert, playing in place of Colin Kaepernick, made his first start in more than two years in San Francisco’s 17-16 victory over Atlanta and speculation is that he will retain the job when the 49ers play at Seattle in two weeks. Kaepernick is 1-6 against the Seahawks and has lost his last four starts against them.

Jets QB weighs surgery

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is considering having surgery on his injured left thumb Friday, a day after New York plays Buffalo. The injury, a torn ligament, is to the thumb on his non-throwing hand, and Fitzpatrick said he wants to be sure he doesn’t miss any games. The likely possibilities are Friday, because the Jets would then have nine days before their next game, or after the season. The Jets also said kicker Nick Folk is expected to miss at least four weeks because of a quadriceps injury.

Etc.

Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy was listed as not practicing because of an injury to his right shoulder, and his status is uncertain for the game against the Jets. . . . Indianapolis put starting defensive lineman Henry Anderson on season-ending injured reserve because of a right-knee injury. . . . Jacksonville receiver Allen Hurns was in a walking boot after spraining his left foot Sunday against the Jets. An X-ray and an MRI test did not reveal any serious damage. . . . A judge delayed the court case against Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson following a police chase this summer. An arraignment scheduled Monday on five misdemeanor charges related to the July 14 incident in suburban St. Louis was continued to Dec. 21.