Brown missed all of training camp with a shoulder injury suffered in the first practice. He was also suspended for four games at the start of the 2007 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy and won an appeal on the offseason that averted a one-year suspension.

Coach Scott Linehan was circumspect when asked the reason for releasing Brown.

He first said, "We signed Jason Craft and we had to release somebody. So we decided that was the player we were going to release."

When asked again, Linehan said, "We were making some changes with our team and one of the things Jason brings is a true nickel player and starting corner if need be and also a very good special teams player. Really we carry a lot of corners that play some on special teams but not enough. Corners are a big part of that and Jason has a background both as a starter, a nickel player and as a special teams player. His full background is something that we were looking for."

--RB Steven Jackson, who had 28 touches against Seattle Sunday, was limited in practice Thursday because of a sore left groin, but it is not expected to affect his availability for Sunday's game.

Jackson rushed 23 times for 66 yards against Seattle, but missed some reads on plays. He missed 27 days of training camp in a contract holdout.

Offensive coordinator Al Saunders said, "Steven's getting his running game legs back a little bit. I think when he looked at the film, there were about four or five runs that he kind of salivated at - he just didn't press the hole quite enough."

--LB Chris Draft is back as a starter on the strong side. He replaces second-year player Quinton Culberson.

Asked the positives Draft brings, coach Scott Linehan said, "He's a leader on the field and a guy who has been through it and knows what it is going to take to prepare for the game. It's going to allow Quinton to get out and be more effective for us on special teams and still have a role on defense. I just think that when Chris is on the field, he settles things down a little bit."

BY THE NUMBERS: 208 -- Number of yards the Rams have gained combined in the first half of their three games.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would not even be on the team if I didn't have confidence completely in where I stand physically. I've played a long time, I've been very fortunate; I've been blessed to have a long career. And if there was any medical advice that I'd gotten that was wavering in the least bit; you know, I have three kids and a great family, great wife and I wouldn't risk all that. I feel comfortable with that and feel that I'm going to play like I always play and see what happens. There's a risk every single snap in the NFL, but just like when I came back in 1999 off a knee (injury). People couldn't believe that I wasn't thinking about guys falling at my legs and everything, it's just when you play the position that's just part of it.

"Things are going to happen around you, it's the game. Norv Turner told me in 1995, he said playing quarterback in the NFL you're going to get hit so either accept it or go find something else to do because that's just part of the position. And if you're afraid or worried or you're seeing ghosts, you have to find something else to do. That was a wake-up call for me because I knew I liked the job and I knew I wanted to play and I was like OK, I have to stop worrying about that stuff." -- QB Trent Green, who suffered concussions the last two seasons, on whether he feels comfortable playing.