PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Chandler Will Start Against Tampa Bay

Saying he wanted to find a spark for his 4-9 team, Coach Chuck Knox will start Chris Chandler at quarterback in place of Chris Miller for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers at Tampa, Fla.

Chandler, 2-2 as a starter this season, has been the coaching staff’s leading candidate for the job but has been recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the Raider game. He came off the bench in the fourth quarter last week against New Orleans when Miller suffered a mild concussion.

Chandler said Wednesday he is sound. Knox called the quarterbacks into his office separately to tell them of the change.

“This is no reflection on Chris Miller,” Knox said. “Both have started, and both have been hurt.

“We’re looking for a spark, Chandler played back at Tampa, and we felt it was time to do something. Miller just came off a head injury. There were a lot of reasons. “

Knox said Miller, 2-7 as a starter, will back up Chandler.

“Obviously I’m frustrated,” Miller said.

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Knox can swap notes on team troubles with Tampa Bay Coach Sam Wyche, whose team also is 4-9 and whose job is also rumored to be on the line.

But Wyche has one problem that Knox doesn’t: heckling fans.

A group of Tampa fans behind the Buccaneer bench has been pretty tough on Wyche, who jabbed back at them Wednesday.

“You remember your first beer, don’t you?” Wyche said. “These guys are reliving their childhood. There are eight of them now (behind the bench). . . . They memorized their one chant, and if they don’t repeat it enough, they’ll forget it.”

And what chant is that?

“The Jimmy Johnson chant,” Wyche said.

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As expected, the Rams put rookie defensive tackle D’Marco Farr on the injured-reserve list and promoted defensive end Jay Williams from the injured-reserve list to the 53-man roster. . . . Injury report: Rams--defensive tackle Jimmie Jones (ankle) and linebacker Joe Kelly (knee) are questionable. Tampa Bay--linebacker Barney Bussey (shoulder) and defensive end Keith Powe (knee) are probable.