by BY JIM THOMAS ¿ jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197 , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

So all indications are the team will enter the regular season with only four wide receivers on the active roster: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Laurent Robinson and Derek Stanley. Robinson is the "senior" member of that group, entering his third NFL season.

"In some regards, yeah, we're thin," coach Steve Spagnuolo said Monday. "We wanted to keep what we thought were the best 53. And it doesn't always lay out the way you did it way back in May."

Wide receiver Greg Lewis, who played in Philadelphia for several seasons with current Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, was released Monday by New England. But the Rams aren't interested in Lewis at this time.

Lewis is a vested veteran, as is Ronald Curry, who was released Saturday by St. Louis. Vested veterans are players with four or more years in the NFL, and their contracts are guaranteed for the entire season if they're on the opening-day roster.

So in a season where the Rams figure to be snug against the salary cap, they may wait until after Sunday's season opener to add a wideout. The Rams also could be keeping an eye on Philadelphia, where the Eagles have seven wide receivers on their roster.

Once quarterback Michael Vick becomes eligible for the active roster after Week 2, one of those seven may go. Hank Baskett and Reggie Brown are possible roster casualties once Vick goes active.

TWO BACKS WORK OUT

Running backs DeShaun Foster and Gary Russell were among the five players working out Tuesday. The group also included fullback-running back Carey Davis and linebackers Tank Daniels and David Herron.

The Rams routinely bring in players for workouts during the regular season, and general manager Billy Devaney indicated that no signings were imminent for any of this week's visitors. Foster rushed for 800 yards-plus in three consecutive seasons with Carolina (2005-2007) but was released by San Francisco this past offseason.

Davis is a Hazelwood Central High graduate who attended the University of Illinois. He started four games at fullback last season for the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh.

CARRIKER SURGERY TODAY

Defensive tackle Adam Carriker has surgery today in Houston to repair a torn muscle in his right shoulder. Carriker said his rehab time will be about four months.

He suffered the injury at the end of the third quarter against Kansas City; it probably would've been his last play in the game.

"It's something I do a million times as a defensive lineman, shedding a blocker," Carriker said. "For some reason, on this play something went wrong. ... I just felt a pop in my shoulder."

Frustration best sums up Carriker's mindset as he has his second shoulder operation in 20 months. (His operation following the '07 season was to the other shoulder.)

RAM-BLINGS

In claiming safety Anthony Smith and defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey on waivers, the Rams inherit their contracts. Both are under contract through 2010. Smith makes $535,000 this year and $700,000 in 2010; Ramsey makes $535,000 this year and $630,000 in 2010. ... To make room for Jones on the practice squad, the Rams released DE Ian Campbell.

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WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

Thursday's game

Tennessee at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday's games

Rams at Seattle, 3:15 p.m. Miami at Atlanta, noon N.Y. Jets at Houston, noon Detroit at New Orleans, noon Denver at Cincinnati, noon Kansas City at Baltimore, noon Dallas at Tampa Bay, noon Minnesota at Cleveland, noon Philadelphia at Carolina, noon Jacksonville at Indianapolis, noon Washington at NY Giants, 3:15 p.m. San Francisco at Arizona, 3:15 p.m. Chicago at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m.

Monday's games

Buffalo at New England, 6 p.m. San Diego at Oakland, 9:15 p.m.

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