December 17, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (95) during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL may be having its downtime right now, but the rumor mill never rests. I know we’ve heard this one before, but DT Albert Haynesworth is still being linked to the Rams. Haynesworth has said he intends to keep playing, and he’s looking for the right fit to fully utilize his skill-set. Considering that Haynesworth had his best seasons under Jeff Fisher while with the Titans, the connection makes sense. Factor in the fact that Jason LaCanfora has also linked the Rams as a possibility this week on Twitter, and things are picking up.

Personally, I think he might be worth a look. The guy was the best player at his position a few years ago under Fisher, and considering we don’t have a ton of depth at DT, a low-risk deal for one season might be a nice investment. If he doesn’t work out, we cut ties with him and move on. If we could get something out of him, then we wouldn’t have to rely on Michael Brockers to step in and carry the load right away.

Of course, Haynesworth would certainly be a gamble and considering that the Rams already have some questionable characters on the roster, it might not be worth the trouble. He hasn’t been good for several years, and trouble seems to follow him. I’d say Fisher knows him about as well as anyone, so I will trust whatever he decides. I doubt Fisher would risk bringing Haynesworth in if he didn’t truly believe he could get back to the high level he once knew.

It’s no secret that the Rams have been hit hard by injuries thus far in 2010, so a couple of rookies are expected to be active this week to make their NFL debuts. Jermelle Cudjo will likely be activated from the practice squad to fill in for Clifton Ryan, who is still suffering from migraine headaches. Cudjo really earned his way onto this team with his excellent showing in the preseason, and it will be interesting to see how many snaps he gets tomorrow on defense. Tight end Fendi Onobun is also expected to be active thanks to injuries to Michael Hoomanawanui and Billy Bajema, so we will finally get a chance to see what this former basketball player has. I would guess that Fendi will make most of his contributions on special teams, but he might get a chance to catch some passes on offense, especially if Daniel Fells is slowed by his knee.

In the rest of the injury news, DT Darell Scott (ankle) and LB Chris Chamberlain (toe) are out. Clifton Ryan, S Craig Dahl (concussion) and WR Laurent Robinson (foot) are doubtful. If I had to make some guesses here, I would say that Robinson will play, while Ryan and Dahl will sit. I don’t know this for sure, but that’s my guess.

Washington Injuries:

Anthony Bryant DT Out
Albert Haynesworth DT Questionable
LaRon Landry S Questionable
Kareem Moore S Questionable
Clinton Portis RB Questionable
Anthony Armstrong WR Questionable
Chris Horton S Questionable
Trent Williams T Questionable

As far as these guys go, I expect the big names like Haynesworth, Landry, and Portis to all suit up. The game is another 3:15 start, so everyone tune in. I will be in attendance at the Jones Dome, so come up and say hi if you see me.

One thing I love about the offseason in the NFL is that there are new rumors coming out almost every day. Now most of these rumors never even come close to seeing the light of day, but it is still fun and interesting to talk about them and discuss the positives and negatives of the potential move. The latest Rams rumor is one of these interesting stories that doesn’t seem likely but isn’t out of the realm of possibility. ESPN’s John Clayton mentioned that the Redskins have been shopping DT Albert Haynesworth to several teams around the league, and he went on to say that there may be some interest in sending Haynesworth to St. Louis in exchange for Adam Carriker and a draft pick. If you are thinking this deal is too good to be true, that’s because it probably is. Or maybe not. For whatever reason the Skins seem to like Carriker, and he is a much better fit in their scheme than he is here. Obviously they have no problem getting rid of Haynesworth, as they reportedly had him as a part of the McNabb deal early in the process. Finally, from what I understand, Haynesworth would be affordable if we acquired him in a trade. You have to wonder why the Skins are running him out of town after just one season, but his talent is undeniable and in the right scheme he has the ability to transform a defense. I know Spags is big on character and the Four Pillars, but at some point you have to be willing to take on a guy with some issues if his talent is enough to compensate for it. If this offer ends up being on the table at some point, it would be foolish for the Rams to pass. Now back to reality… this is probably never going to happen, so I wouldn’t hold my breath.

One more little free agent tidbit: The Rams plan to host former Broncos’ running back Ryan Torain on April 21. Torain is a guy who has loads of talent, but he has been unable to stay on the field during his short NFL career. He was drafted by the Broncos in 2008, but injuries have prevented him from making any kind of impact thus far. If the Rams decide to take a chance on him, it would be a minimal risk move that could provide great rewards if he can stay healthy.