PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Chandler Hopeful Despite Sprain

Quarterback Chris Chandler’s sprained left ankle showed improvement, but not enough for him to return to practice and unseat Chris Miller, who is expected to start Sunday at Green Bay.

Chandler threw in a light workout for the first time after spraining the ankle in the second quarter of an 8-5 loss to Atlanta on Sunday. But he’s listed as doubtful for the Green Bay game.

“He’s optimistic about it,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “But I don’t think we’ll know anything until Friday.”

Knox plans to start Miller, still bothered by a pinched nerve and slight shoulder separation, over a sound but ineffective Tommy Maddox. Miller got a little more than half the work in practice Wednesday to prepare him against a Packer pass rush that features Sean Jones and Reggie White.

Most of the practice snaps went to Maddox, who needs more work to learn the offensive scheme.

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With Miller, tailback Jerome Bettis and fullback Tim Lester, the Rams will start a beat-up backfield Sunday.

Bettis sat out practice because of soreness from a deep bruise in his lower back. Lester limped off the practice field after mildly spraining his left ankle in a collision with linebacker Roman Phifer. Both said they expect to play Sunday.

Bettis voiced concern over a heavy workload the last two games. He carried a combined 64 times for 264 yards in those games, and his 130 carries this season are 12 more than any other NFL back.