St. Louis Rams Promote LB Marshall McFadden to Active Roster

After releasing wide receiver Austin Pettis from the active roster on Monday afternoon, the St. Louis Rams filled that vacancy on Tuesday by signing practice squad linebacker Marshall McFadden to the active roster. McFadden had been added to the fold two weeks ago, along with veteran linebacker Will Herring (who was signed to the active roster), after second-year linebacker and special-teamer Ray Ray Armstrong was released following a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

McFadden, a 28-year-old out of South Carolina State, has spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders over the past two seasons, splitting time between both teams’ practice squads and active rosters. At 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, McFadden could fill in at any of the three linebacker positions. However, with James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree playing every snap and Jo-Lonn Dunbar serving capably as the strongside ‘backer when necessary, the Rams don’t have an exceptional need for depth at the position. Even if one of the starters were injured, Herring or Daren Bates would likely get the call ahead of McFadden.

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For now, it’s unlikely that McFadden will be able to crack the 46-man gameday roster due to the presence of core special-teamers like Herring, Bates, and running back Chase Reynolds. Unless he was able to pass one of those players up on the depth chart, his only real chance at dressing right now would probably be if the Rams decide that they can live without one of their five running backs on the gameday roster (namely Zac Stacy, who had just one snap from scrimmage and did not play on special teams on Sunday against Seattle).

With McFadden’s promotion, the Rams have two vacant practice squad spots which they will likely fill before they get back to practice tomorrow.

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