PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Experience Gives Stewart the Nod

Coach Chuck Knox said Friday that Michael Stewart won the training camp battle with Pat Terrell and will be the team’s starting strong safety against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Stewart, who begins his seventh season in the NFL, started six games at free safety last season before suffering a broken arm. Terrell, who begins his fourth season, replaced an injured Stewart last season and started 10 games.

“We just decided we would go with the guy who’s the most experienced,” Knox said. “(The competition) was about even . . . both are going to play.”

Wide receiver Sean LaChapelle, the team’s fifth-round draft pick, will work as No. 5 receiver. “He’s going to play,” Knox said. “We’re going to try and go with those other four guys, but he’s there if we need him. The one thing he does is catch the football. He was handicapped with that (sore) thumb last week, but he’s caught everything this week.”

Richard Buchanan, the longest of longshots to make the Rams’ roster, will be the team’s fourth wide receiver and one of the prime candidates to return punts.

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Starting offensive tackle Jackie Slater, who begins his 18th season in the NFL, is suffering from flu. . . . The Rams announced previously that wide receiver Phillip Bobo and guard Shawn Harper had been released. The announcement was made in error, however. Both players remain with the team on injured reserve. . . . The Rams departed for Milwaukee on Friday afternoon and will practice at County Stadium today.