Rams WR Mark Clayton (PUP, knee) is scheduled to return to practice next week.

In the first four games of last season, Clayton amassed 22 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Then he tore his patellar tendon in Week 5. With the Rams' receiving corps looking even shakier than expected this season thanks to Danny Amendola's arm injury and the struggles of Greg Salas/Austin Pettis, Clayton is certainly on the fantasy radar. He will be eligible to return in Week 8 against the Saints.

Rams placed WR Mark Clayton (knee) on the reserve/PUP list.

Clayton will first be eligible to play in Week 8 against the Saints. He'll essentially serve as Danario Alexander insurance after the Rams gave the talented but injury prone wideout a roster spot on Saturday.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo acknowledged Friday that Mark Clayton (knee) is almost certainly headed for reserve/PUP to open the season.

Spags conceded he'd be "really surprised" if Clayton were able to get his knee right for Week 1. The Rams will decide Clayton's fate Saturday. He'd essentially serve as another cut if moved from the active/PUP to reserve/PUP.

Rams WR Mark Clayton (knee) is expected to be placed on reserve/PUP Saturday.

The Rams re-signed Clayton because of his early-season chemistry with Sam Bradford, but it looks like he's not going to play before late October. Clayton won't be worth stashing on redraft rosters in the mean time.

Rams placed WR Mark Clayton (knee) on active/PUP.

Howard Balzer of ESPN 101 contacted the Rams about Clayton's recovery from last year's torn patellar tendon, and was told it's "to be determined" regarding whether Clayton will open the season on reserve/PUP, costing him the first six games. The Rams will have to make that determination quickly with final cuts due by Saturday. By placing Clayton on regular season PUP, he wouldn't count against their 53-man roster before Week 7.

Rams re-signed WR Mark Clayton to a one-year contract.

It's bad news for Danario Alexander, who is believed to have practice squad eligibility remaining. Clayton, 29, was not signed to this point because his 2010 ruptured patella tendon had not completely healed. It's unclear if he'll be 100 percent early in the season, but the signing indicates that the Rams plan to have Clayton on their Week 1 roster. He's joining a jumbled depth chart. Clayton will have to overtake at least Donnie Avery and either Mike Sims-Walker or Brandon Gibson to enter three-receiver sets.

The Canton Repository suggests the Browns could show interest in free agent WR Mark Clayton.

Head coach Pat Shurmur's Rams traded for Clayton a week before the season opener last year. "Keep that piece of info under your hat," says beat writer Steve Doerschuk. The Browns receivers had trouble separating against the Eagles' star cornerbacks Thursday night. Still not 100 percent recovered from knee surgery, Clayton would be unlikely to help out early in the year.

Free agent WR Mark Clayton will reportedly work out for the Patriots Friday.

The well-stocked Pats also worked out T.J. Houshmandzadeh this week, likely in an effort to build a watch list in case of injuries at receiver. It's also an opportunity to gauge Clayton's progress after the Rams suggested his knee wasn't ready for the rigors of NFL practices.

Free agent Mark Clayton (knee surgery) is expected to re-sign with the Rams, according to ESPN's John Clayton.

Clayton, who is coming off a patellar tendon tear, worked out for the Rams on Wednesday. Even though an early-season impact is unlikely, it appears the Rams are ready to stash him on an incentive-laden deal. Clayton is a good bet to start the year on the PUP list, leaving him off the fantasy radar.

Free agent WR Mark Clayton visited with the Rams Tuesday.

Clayton's knee is still "a ways away from being considered healthy enough to play," according to beat writer Jim Thomas. The Rams are open to bringing him back, likely on an incentive-laden deal, but he wouldn't help the team early in the season.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo indicated Saturday that free agent WR Mark Clayton's surgically repaired knee is "not ready yet."

It's hard to imagine Clayton and his agent looking kindly on Spags' revelation. We haven't seen the quote in context yet, so perhaps the Rams are still considering Clayton once his knee checks out. At this point, we wouldn't expect to see him sign elsewhere any time soon.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch confirms the Rams are "talking" to free agent WR Mark Clayton about re-signing.

There had been some speculation that St. Louis would move on after picking up two mid-round receivers in the draft. The Rams never made a serious run at Sidney Rice, but they could be considering other big targets before settling on a deal with Clayton.

Free agent Mark Clayton says his surgically repaired knee is "wonderful" after recently running routes for Sam Bradford.

Clayton should be good to go for training camp. Contract talks with the Rams were close to an agreement before the lockout kicked in. "I would love to stay," Clayton said. "I love playing with Sam. The organization is great." It will be interesting to see if the feeling is still mutual after the Rams picked up two mid-round receivers in the draft.

Beat writer Jim Thomas reiterates that the Rams are expected to re-sign free agent Mark Clayton.

Bringing back Clayton will become even more crucial if the Rams don't land Alabama WR Julio Jones in the draft. The Rams were close to a new deal with Clayton before the lockout, so a deal could be reached shortly after a new CBA. The ex-Raven piled up 22 catches for 300 yards in four full games with the Rams last season.

Free agent Mark Clayton isn't quite yet at 100 percent following his October surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

He is expected to be for training camp, however. Clayton is widely expected to re-sign with the Rams once the labor impasse is resolved, and he'll be a solid late-round flier in PPR leagues after reeling in 23 catches in just five games last season.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jim Thomas hears that it's "all but a slam-dunk" that free agent Mark Clayton will re-sign with the Rams after the lockout.

The sides were already close to an agreement by the March 3 deadline, so they can pick up where they left off. The Rams are believed in the market for another receiver as well, so there's no guarantee that Clayton will be Sam Bradford's top target coming off patellar tendon surgery.

The Rams were reportedly close to a deal with free agent Mark Clayton on Thursday.

Reports have been mixed on the rules for teams re-signing their own players during Friday's 24-hour extension. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes the Rams do have another day to hammer out an agreement before the midnight deadline. It's clear that both sides want Clayton in St. Louis next season. His fantasy value will hinge on further additions during the draft and free agency.

The player rep for Mark Clayton expects the free agent to be fully recovered from patellar tendon surgery by "somewhere at the end of March ... or in April."

"He's doing extremely well," the agent said. "He'll be 100 percent, and be fine. I don't know exactly when he'll be at full, full, full, speed." Coming off injury, Clayton won't be in high demand, which certainly helps the Rams' chances of re-signing him to a reasonable deal.

The Rams have had "steady dialogue" with free agent Mark Clayton and hope to re-sign him before March 4.

"He's certainly a candidate to get an extension done before the deadline," said Rams VP of football operations Kevin Demoff. "But if he doesn't, that wouldn't change our opinion on wanting him back." The Rams are likely hoping to re-sign Clayton to a cheap one- or two-year deal. He was the team's No. 1 receiver before tearing his right patellar tendon in Week 5.

Rams GM Billy Devaney confirmed that he's interested in re-signing impending free agent Mark Clayton, who is coming off a torn patellar tendon.

"We think the world of the guy," Devaney said. "We would love for him to be here." The Rams won't have much competition for Clayton's services considering his injury. The two sides should be able to agree on a mutually beneficial one-year deal.