PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : NFC : Rams Move to Enhance Running Game

The St. Louis Rams got some help for their struggling running game, signing blocking tight end Pat Carter and releasing fullback Tim Lester.

Carter, 29, missed almost all of training camp with Houston, signing last Tuesday. He was waived Sunday by the Oilers.

Carter spent five seasons with the Rams, from 1989-93, before joining the Oilers last season. He used to block for Jerome Bettis, who had the first of two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in ’93.

The Rams’ running game averaged 44 yards a game and two yards per carry in exhibitions.

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The Carolina Panthers, struggling to find fresh legs for their running game, signed seven-year NFL veteran Vince Workman.

Workman spent four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the last two with Tampa Bay. His best season was 1992 when he gained 631 yards on a 4.0 average for the Packers.

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Philadelphia Coach Ray Rhodes said he doesn’t expect to see cornerback-outfielder Deion Sanders playing for the Eagles this season.

“Deion’s got a lot of people pursuing him,” said Rhodes, who was Sanders’ defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers last season. “He knows what I’m about. He’ll make that decision when the time comes, but I just feel he’s going to end up back in San Francisco.”

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, down to two quarterbacks after the last training camp cut, re-signed Todd Philcox. Philcox, who will back up Trent Dilfer and Casey Weldon, was released Sunday. To make room for him, cornerback Tony Stargell was waived.

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The Chicago Bears signed wide receiver Harrison Houston to their practice squad. Houston, a second-year pro, was waived during the Atlanta Falcons’ final cutdown. . . . The Washington Redskins signed defensive end Mike Flores and re-signed defensive tackle Anthony Abrams, waived on Monday, to the practice squad. Flores, a five-year veteran, played the past four seasons with the Eagles.