Rams' injured newcomer hopes to make debut Sunday

~ Free-agent signee Drew Bennett has been nursing a strained leg muscle.

ST. LOUIS -- Receiver Drew Bennett did not practice Tuesday for the St. Louis Rams but the free-agent signee said he expects to play in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Bennett has a strained quad muscle and was held out of practice at Rams Park. However, Bennett believes he will be ready Sunday to make his St. Louis debut against the visiting Panthers.

"I'm doing fine and I expect to play," Bennett said. "I did a pretty good workout in the training room today. I'm anxious to make my debut. I want to be healthy."

The muscle "got tight" during Saturday's practice, Bennett said. He's been getting treatment since then.

Rams coach Scott Linehan said he remains optimistic about Bennett playing Sunday.

"We're hoping so," Linehan said. "He's sore. We didn't feel we had to push it today. Quads are funny. He'll be day to day."

The Rams have high expectations for Bennett, the team's new third wide receiver. Bennett led the Tennessee Titans in receptions the last two seasons. Bennett signed a six-year contract when the Rams chose him to fill a void as the team's third receiver behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. He replaced Kevin Curtis, who left to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bennett led the Titans with 46 receptions for 737 yards last season and ranks ninth on the team's career list with 273 catches for 4,033 yards and 25 touchdowns. He played his first six seasons with Tennessee after breaking in as an undrafted player.

Bennett's 16-yard average ranked third in the AFC and seventh in the league last season among players with at least 45 receptions. Bennett's best season was in 2004, when he had personal bests with 80 receptions, 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns. Eight of the touchdowns came in three games, tying a record set by Jerry Rice in 1987 and 1993.

Left guard Richie Incognito is still nursing a high ankle sprain he sustained in a preseason game with San Diego. He had his practice time limited Tuesday. Linehan said Incognito remains questionable for the opener.

Incognito was more positive in his evaluation.

"Right now, I feel real good," Incognito said. "I think it'll be a collective decision. If I feel good, I'll play."

The Rams first-string offense did not score a touchdown in the preseason, but Bennett said that does not concern him.

"The preseason is exactly what it is," Bennett said. "I think Marc [Bulger] said it great. He said it matters, but it doesn't count. Now, it counts. Guys are taking extra preparation. There's more focus. The tempo is different. There's more of a buzz for the opening week."

"We know we'll play more than a quarter this week."

Noteworthy

• The Rams voted their captains for the season. Linehan said the players chose nine while the NFL allows five, "so, we'll figure that out." The captains are Jeff Wilkins, Cory Chavous, Will Witherspoon, La'Roi Glover, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Steven Jackson.
• Witherspoon did not practice Tuesday. He sat out with stomach flu.
• Holt nursed his surgically repaired right knee through training camp. "He looked 100 percent to me today," Linehan said.
• Jackson is ready to play despite having just one carry in the preseason. "He's had about 250 carries in practice," Linehan said. "I'm comfortable with that. He's 100 percent and ready to go."