Rams to work out under lights on Thursday

MACOMB, Ill. (AP) -- St. Louis Rams players will get a change of pace Thursday night, practicing under the lights.

The practice comes after a week of workouts, mostly two-a-days and all during the day, although they'll also hold a morning workout that day. The team will work out at Hanson Field at Western Illinois University, where they're holding training camp.

Coach Mike Martz said he'd script a game situation with referees, kicking and substitution, but no tackling. The workout is a substitute for scrimmaging with other teams, which the team hasn't tried since they played the Tennessee Titans in 2000 in a rematch of the Rams' Super Bowl victory earlier that year.

Martz said it hasn't happened since then because teams want the Rams to travel, and there's no guarantee about getting a return visit the next year. The Rams used to meet the Colts halfway in Champaign, Ill., but the Colts over time became less enthusiastic about it.

"For whatever reason, guys are very leery about doing that," Martz said. "There are teams that want to do it, but there's just too much travel for us.

"Everybody wants to scrimmage as long as they can scrimmage at their place."

Such scrimmages are a mixed bag anyway, giving players a chance to hit somebody else for a change but with the risk of injury. Running back Trung Canidate, the first-round pick in 2000, and offensive lineman Kaulana Noa, the fourth-rounder that year, were hurt when the Rams met the Titans during training camp.

"That's a tough pill to swallow," Martz said. "So you can set the tempo of your practice with your own guys and get what you want, but it's hard when you work with other people because it's still a very competitive atmosphere.

"I just think at this point we're better off just like we are."

Practicing at night allows the Rams to escape the heat, although weather has been mild thus far. Also, all four preseason games are at night.

The Rams didn't hold a similar practice last year because the track that circles Hanson Field was being resurfaced.

Notes: WR Kevin Curtis, the team's third-round pick, might be sidelined another week with a thigh injury. Curtis' injury is giving Dane Looker, in training camp for the fourth straight year, a chance to perhaps carve out a spot. ... DE Grant Wistrom, who hasn't practiced yet after injuring both feet a month before training camp, will be evaluated on Monday.