Rams Shore Up Tight End Position by Acquiring Pat Carter From Lions

The team without an operable tight end went straight to a team that didn’t need one Friday when the Rams acquired Pat Carter from the Detroit Lions in a trade that will allow one team to resume normal practice sessions.

The Rams, gutted at the position because of one key holdout and several injuries, gave up a fourth-round pick next year for Carter, a second-round choice of the Lions in 1988.

The Lions could part with Carter because they are now operating Mouse Davis’ run-and-shoot offense, which does not require a tight end.

“He doesn’t fit in their program anymore,” Ram Coach John Robinson said.

Carter will fit in this one as soon as he steps off the plane. In fact, Robinson said his new tight end would play in Monday night’s exhibition game against the Phoenix Cardinals at Anaheim Stadium.

The Rams were left this week without an available tight end because of Johnson’s holdout and injuries to Pete Holohan, Vernon Kirk, Richard Ashe and Gary Knudson.

Robinson said the trade was not made to pressure Johnson, who is holding out because he wants to renegotiate his contract. A little squeeze never hurts, though.

“We’re not trying to punish Damone,” Robinson said. “ . . . It’s related to some degree to Damone’s absence, but if Damone was here, we were (still) concerned about depth at the postion.”

The Rams had been searching for blocking tight to replace Eric Sievers all along, but had suddenly lost the luxury of time.

Carter, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, was quite a prospect coming out of Florida State, but he was slowed by a back injury suffered in training camp as a rookie. Carter, 23, started 14 games for Detroit last season and had 13 receptions.

He did not appear in the Rams’ 17-10 victory over the Lions last September at Anaheim Stadium, a game in which quarterback Jim Everett hit Damone Johnson on a four-yard scoring pass for the game-winner.

Ram Notes

Gaston Green is doubtful for Monday night’s game because of a thigh bruise. Robert Delpino will probably start at tailback, although he is also hobbled by a thigh injury. Guard Mark Schmidt is out after suffering a concussion at practice this week. . . . The Rams will hold guard Tom Newberry out another week, although he is practicing at full speed after suffering an off-season hamstring pull.