Rams News

Wright will test injured knee against Chargers

08/14/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

SAN DIEGO -- Toby Wright is scheduled to start at strong safety tonight in an exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers. But he's not sure he wants to.
``I'm going to play, but not much,'' Wright said. ``I might do pregame (warm-up) and that's it.''
Wright, who is continuing his comeback from reconstructive knee surgery in January, has been practicing only once a day during training camp. On days when the team practices twice, which is most days, he skips one practice.
He also sat out the scrimmage against the Indianapolis Colts two weeks ago and the preseason opener against Denver last week. The original timetable called for him possibly to make his preseason debut in Game 3 next week against Dallas.
Wright doesn't think he's healthy enough to play tonight.
``I'm out here limping and doing whatever,'' Wright said. ``I don't think I'm at a full 100 percent. So if that's the case, no, I'm not totally ready. I'm not ready.''
Wright said he was ``a little surprised'' to learn that the team wanted him to play against San Diego.
``But I know we're doing this new, progressive-type style of rehab, where I'm out there doing football work to get to my final stage (of readiness),'' Wright said. ``But being in the game mode -- that's stepping it up. I'm going to take it cautiously.''

Bono bits
Veteran Steve Bono, embarking on his 14th NFL campaign, makes his preseason debut tonight for the Rams. He's scheduled to play the second and third quarters against the Chargers.
``I want to go out and play well, and be sharp on what I need to do,'' said the soft-spoken Bono. ``To be able to lead a couple scoring drives, that would be nice.''
Bono rather would have played last week against Denver as well.
``But it's a decision they made,'' he said. ``In a rotation, or whatever they decided to do, I just wasn't playing. That's kind of the way it is in the preseason sometimes.''
Coach Dick Vermeil already has a good idea of what Bono can do, even though he's playing in a new offensive system.
``I've seen him play extremely well in big games,'' Vermeil said. ``I just hope he can play with an understanding of the offense under pressure. . . . To pick it up and execute it well in all the pass coverage schemes, and calling the pass protections, it's a problem. It can distract you from being as good as you ought to be. That will all be taken into consideration.''
Bono believes he's had a good camp to date and feels his grasp of the offense is improving daily. ``Obviously, I don't have a feel for it like I had a feel for the West Coast offense after all those years, but I think it's coming along,'' Bono said.
Before coming to St. Louis, Bono played in variations of the West Coast offense for most of the past decade at Green Bay, Kansas City and San Francisco.

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