Rams hope Ponder can fix their troubles on kick returns

~ The Southeast Missouri State product joins one of the NFL's worst teams in returns.

ST. LOUIS -- A season-ending injury to cornerback Travis Fisher gave the St. Louis Rams a roster spot to spend on a season-long trouble spot, kick returner.

Willie Ponder, signed on Tuesday, is the fourth player the team has tried at that spot.

Ponder averaged 23.5 yards per kickoff in six games with the Seahawks, including a 36-yarder against the Rams on Oct. 15. He was released later in October when Seattle needed a roster spot due to an injury to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

"He's a specialist in that area," Rams coach Scott Linehan said. "He's a straight ahead, one-cut returner. I think he can impact the game with the big return and have the ability to hit the home run."

The Rams are averaging 20 yards per return, near the bottom of the NFL.

Ponder, who played collegiately at Southeast Missouri State, led the NFL with a 26.5-yard average in 2004 with the Giants and has two career touchdown runbacks.

"I know I've got to come in and work hard," Ponder said. "I know the people upstairs are going to have a lot of expectations for me."

Ponder had a tryout in St. Louis on Oct. 31, but the team wasn't ready to make a move at that time.

Ponder said he was a bit hindered by a heel bruise in that workout and said he didn't believe he had a good day.

"I don't know if that's what it was," he said. "But I'm glad they had the confidence to bring me back in."

Fisher was placed on injured-reserve with a broken right forearm that the team believed would have sidelined him until the last few games of the season.

Fisher is the second player to go on IR this week. He joins All-Pro offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who will undergo surgery on Friday for a torn triceps muscle.

"The evaluation of Fisher was not real positive," Linehan said. "It looked more like six weeks than four."

A previous injury to Fisher's forearm, in which a metal plate was inserted for stability, factored in the decision.

"You reinjure an arm that's already got a plate in it, you're going to be a little bit more cautious," Linehan said. "It's just the logical thing to do."

J.R. Reed, who began the season as the kick return man, was released.