St. Louis Rams Add Linebacker Marshall McFadden to Practice Squad

The St. Louis Rams created two roster vacancies earlier this week by releasing linebacker/special-teamer Ray Ray Armstrong from the active roster and cutting wide receiver Justin Veltung from the practice squad. They filled the spot on the active roster Tuesday by signing 31-year-old linebacker Will Herring, and the practice squad vacancy was filled Wednesday by linebacker Marshall McFadden.

The 28-year-old McFadden was undrafted out of South Carolina State in 2011. After failing to receive an offer in his first year out of college, he was signed as a rookie free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012 and split the season between the practice squad and active roster. He started 2013 on the Oakland Raiders’ practice squad before eventually being elevated to the active roster, playing in four games, and registering two tackles.

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McFadden will provide extra depth at a position the Rams have gone short at all season long. After beginning the season with five linebackers on the active roster (one less than usual) and two on the practice squad, they trimmed the group down even further by releasing practice squad linebacker Kevin Reddick several weeks ago. When Armstrong was released earlier this week, something needed to be done to ensure that there was more depth beyond special-teamer Daren Bates and practice squad member Denicos Allen, so the Rams will be hoping that the additions of Herring and McFadden solve the issues.

As an aside, the addition of McFadden may be extra beneficial this week considering that the Rams will be going up against the San Francisco 49ers’ 3-4 defense, and McFadden has experience playing on the inside in Pittsburgh’s 3-4.

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