Groin injury lands Rams' Fisher on injured reserve

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams cornerback Travis Fisher was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a groin injury, the latest setback for a 5-8 team that was expected to compete for a playoff spot.

The Rams also signed three players to the roster from their practice squad: tight end Jerome Collins, defensive tackle Jeremy Calahan and defensive end Clifford Dukes. They released tight end Cam Cleeland and kick returner David Allen.

"All the moves we've made, we think are going to give us the best chance to win our next game," interim coach Joe Vitt said. "We brought up some of the young kids that worked hard and they deserve a chance."

The Rams will get one of their starters back, however. Rookie offensive tackle Alex Barron, who missed the last two games after undergoing surgery on his left hand, tested the hand Wednesday and had no problems.

"He's a young kid that was a little leery," Vitt said. "He just had surgery and had to get that thing punched a few times, and he did it. Good for him."

Fisher has missed five of the last six games and said last week his chances of returning this season were "slim." He's the third cornerback to go on IR, along with fellow starter Jerametrius Butler and Terry Fair, and the Rams also have linebacker Dexter Coakley and offensive lineman Blaine Saipaia on the list.

"We've got three weeks left," Vitt said. "We've got to move on."

Collins, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, has been on the practice squad all season.

"It's definitely an audition for next year and the years coming up," Collins said. "If not here somewhere else."

Calahan and Dukes both were undrafted.