ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Rams claimed four players off waivers Sunday in roster juggling ahead of the season opener including rookie running back Terrance Ganaway, released two days earlier by the Jets.
The Rams also added defensive tackle Kellen Heard, offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe and offensive guard Shelley Smith. They released tight end Michael Hoomanawanui and offensive guard Quinn Ojinnaka on Sunday and a day earlier traded wide receiver Greg Salas to the Patriots for a 2015 draft pick and released cornerback Jerome Murphy.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Ganaway was a sixth-round pick of the Jets and was released on Friday. His senior season at Baylor, Ganaway rushed for 1,547 yards with 21 touchdowns.
Heard, 6-6 and 339 pounds, played for Rams defensive line coach Mike Waufle in Oakland in 2010 after making the team as an undrafted free agent. He made two starts last year for Buffalo.
Nsekhe, 6-8 and 325 pounds, spent last offseason with the Colts and prior to that played three seasons with the San Antonio Talons of the Arena Football League. Smith, 6-4 and 297 pounds, was a sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2010 and was on injured reserve last season.
Hoomanawanui was a fifth-round pick of the Rams in 2010 and played in nine games before a season-ending knee injury last year, catching seven passes. Ojinnaka signed as an unrestricted free agent in March.
The Rams drafted Salas in the fourth round in 2011. Murphy was a third-round pick in 2010.and appeared in 14 games as a rookie, but missed the entire 2011 season with an ankle injury.