Hall expects to see action vs. Chargers

ST. LOUIS -- Dante Hall is eager to play his first game with a new team, even if it is the preseason. But the veteran return man has his limits.

Hall, who missed the St. Louis Rams' preseason opener with a hamstring injury, said Thursday he's scheduled to play the first half Saturday night against the San Diego Chargers. He expects to play some at wide receiver.

"I've got my mom and son coming in for the first time, and it's going to be my first time playing for a new team, so there's going to be a lot of anxiety," Hall said. "I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be an exciting weekend all the way around."

Hall, who said he's 95 percent healed from the hamstring injury, doesn't figure to have such a high anticipation level the rest of the preseason. He believes it's two games too long.

"Two would be like perfect, ideal," Hall said "I would say two if I had to vote, but the owners have got to pocket that money, so I understand."

Like most teams, the Rams conserve veterans for the regular season even if they're healthy. The starters played sparingly in the opener and are likely to see increased time the next two games, and then most will sit in the final preseason game.

Another veteran, defensive tackle La'Roi Glover, also is expected to make his preseason debut against the Chargers. Glover missed the opener with a hip flexor injury but has practiced the last two days.

Coach Scott Linehan wants to see both on the field, although he'll exercise caution.

"I'd like to see them play enough to see that they're getting the snaps they're going to need to get ready for the season," Linehan said. "You've got to be smart.

"I think Dante's really gotten a lot better with his hamstring, and we'll make sure Glover doesn't have any issues or soreness or setbacks."

The Rams are counting on Hall, acquired from the Kansas City Chiefs in April for a fifth-round draft pick, to revive a long dormant return game. The 28-year-old Hall has returned 11 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns in his seven-year career, but became expendable in Kansas City when his numbers declined the last two seasons.

St. Louis has been near the bottom of the NFL in both kickoff and punt returns the last several years.

Glover is entering his 13th season, most on the Rams' defense. He's among a group of veterans on the line helping first-round pick Adam Carriker, the nose tackle, get up to speed.

"It's good to get out there, mostly from a timing standpoint working with James Hall and Adam," Glover said. "We can get on the same page so during the season, I can just nod and that'll be enough so that James will know what I want to do."

Notes: The Rams practiced indoors despite a break in the heat with

the temperature at 90 rather than triple-digits as it had been for several days, with Linehan citing windy conditions. The team has closed workouts to the public for the rest of the summer. ... QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, fighting for the third-string job with Brock Berlin, has a cracked rib and will be a game-time decision. ... Several thousand tickets remain unsold and the game will not be televised locally.