Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines eager to play in exhibition after year away from game action
Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines could be on track to play in Saturday night’s exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Coliseum.
Gaines sat out last week against the Dallas Cowboys because of a hamstring strain. He took some first-team reps Tuesday and is expected to take more Wednesday.
After missing all of last season because of a foot injury, he is eager to get back onto the field during a game.
“It will definitely be a big step for me in my rehab process, getting out there and getting live reps and hitting people,” he said of Saturday’s exhibition. “It’s been a full year.”
Gaines started 15 games in 2014 but was injured during training camp last year and was sidelined after surgery. He took part in off-season workouts in Oxnard but was not cleared for full football activity until training camp.
“It felt like more than a year,” he said of the rehabilitation process. “It felt like five years.”
Gaines is competing with Lamarcus Joyner and Coty Sensabaugh to start opposite Trumaine Johnson and fill the void left by the departure of Janoris Jenkins.
Joyner and Sensabaugh gave up touchdown passes against the Cowboys.
Twitter: @LATimesklein
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