Running back Isaiah Pead latest Ram to be suspended

A little more than a week after the NFL announced a one-game suspension for St. Louis guard Rokevious Watkins, another Rams player has been sidelined.

Running back Isaiah Pead will also be suspended for the first regular-season game without pay for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. It’s not known what specifically Pead did to fall into trouble with the league. Of course, the second-year player from Cincinnati will be able to participate in the remainder of the club’s offseason program as well as training camp and preseason before he gets a short timeout.

The Rams drafted Pead in the second round last year, 50th overall, but he contributed little and was primarily used on special teams. He had only 10 carries all season but figures to be in the mix in what could be a wide-open competition for the starting job now that Steven Jackson has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.

Daryl Richardson rushed for 475 yards last year playing behind Jackson. He’s in the thick of things along with Terrenace Ganaway and Zac Stacy, a fifth-round draft pick from Vanderbilt. Really, Pead might be the player St. Louis is looking to lean on the most. Fortunately, a one-game suspension won’t foul things up for him too much.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

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