Rams Add Three to Practice Squad; Veteran Linebacker Previously Cut Could Return

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Rams signed former Detroit Lions defensive back Isaiah Johnson and two rookies Monday to complete their 10-player practice squad.

Johnson played six games with the Detroit Lions as a rookie last season, making what would be his lone tackle on the first play of his NFL career.

Defensive back Blake Countess was chosen in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Auburn by the Philadelphia Eagles. Countess started 30 games over four seasons at Michigan before transferring to Auburn in 2015 as a graduate transfer.

Tight end Bryce Williams made one catch for no yards in two preseason games with the New England Patriots, who had signed him as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina.

All three players had been waived Saturday as part of the cuts to reach the NFL's 53-player regular-season limit.

On Sunday, Rams coach Jeff Fisher expressed optimism about the possible return of linebacker Akeem Ayers, whose contract was terminated a day earlier.

"All of the decisions that you make are difficult, and some of the decisions that you make are not permanent," Fisher said as part of his first comments to reporters since Saturday's cuts were announced.

"That's all I can say. Akeem has played well for us. We've enjoyed having him. But we're kind of hopeful that this is not the end between us and Akeem. I'll just say that."

Ayers played in all 16 games for the Rams last season, when they were based in St. Louis. Ayers is an alumnus of UCLA and Verbum Dei High School in South Los Angeles who has played five seasons in the NFL.

Fisher said "there's probably going to be moving parts over the next couple of days" with the roster.

Offensive lineman Eric Kush, who was waived Saturday, was awarded to the Chicago Bears on a waiver claim Sunday. Kush played seven games for the Rams in 2015 and three with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.

"There will probably be more players here over the next few days that end up on someone else's roster," Fisher said at the team's regular-season training base, California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. "And if that's the case, then we're doing our jobs."

The Rams added seven players to their practice squad, all of whom they had waived a day earlier in the cut to reach the NFL's 53-player regular-season limit.

Running back Terrence Magee was the only player with previous NFL regular-season gam experience. Magee rushed for five yards on two carries, caught one pass for two yards and returned one kickoff for 28 yards in four games with the Baltimore Ravens last season.

Magee ran for a two-point conversion in Thursday's 27-25 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in a preseason game.

Offensive tackle Isaiah Battle spent time on both the active roster and practice squad with the Rams last season after they used a fifth-round pick in the supplemental draft on him.

Five of the players were undrafted rookies — linebacker Brandon Chubb, defensive end Morgan Fox, running back Aaron Green, defensive back Michael Jordan and receiver Paul McRoberts.

Green caught what proved to be the winning touchdown pass in the Rams preseason opener Aug. 13 and ran 26 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown Thursday. He is a nephew of Gary Green, cornerback with the Rams in 1984 and 1985.

McRoberts caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Sean Mannion in the fourth quarter Thursday.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Rams