Ayers appears to have the inside track to the starting strong side linebacker spot, ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner reports.

Ayers had a solid second half of 2014 with the Patriots, and that appears enough for the Rams to give him a look at starting alongside Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis. If Ayers lives up to his potential, the Rams' front seven will be hard to match by any other team in the NFL.

Ayers is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Rams, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Ayers spent last season in New England where he compiled 23 tackles, four sacks, and one interception over nine games. It's still unclear exactly what his role will be with the Rams, but he'll have an opportunity to start alongside Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis.

Ayers was traded to the Patriots on Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports.

Ayers had merely served as a backup linebacker in Tennesssee, so he should see an opportunity to play more snaps in a group of New England linebackers that recently lost Jerod Mayo (knee) for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old linebacker recorded 104 combined tackles back in 2012, but has managed just 33 total snaps so far this season. The deal will be finalized after Ayers passes his physical with New England.

Ayers is currently listed behind fellow linebacker Kamerion Wimbley on the Titans' depth chart.

Ayers had offseason surgeries on both knees, but he hasn't been limited in training camp. He'll be battling Wimbley for playing time, and even if he doesn't start, the former second-round pick, who had only one sack in 16 games in 2013, is expected to see his fair share of snaps.

TitanInsider reports "there may be concerns about the timetable" of Titans LB Akeem Ayers' (knees) return to 100 percent.

Ayers underwent two separate knee operations in the offseason to repair the patella tendons in his knees, first on his right one in January and then his left one in March. He's tentatively expected to be ready for camp, but may not be full-go at the start. Ayers plans on playing outside linebacker in DC Ray Horton's new 3-4 defense. When healthy, he can cover and get after the quarterback.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers is recovering from surgery to both knees.

Only one procedure had previously been disclosed. Ayers had operations to "repair the patella tendon" in both knees. He underwent surgery on his right knee in January before having the left operated on six weeks later. "Day to day" for OTAs, Ayers is expected to be ready for camp.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers (knee) remains without a timetable for a return.

Speaking Tuesday, coach Ken Whisenhunt hinted Ayers won't be ready to resume practicing before June. "Akeem is . working hard. He's been in here the last few weeks working, which he needed to do. He's making some progress." We'd still expect Ayers to gain full clearance before camp, but it shouldn't be considered a given until the Titans clear up his status. They haven't disclosed the exact nature of his January operation.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers (knee) is not expected to participate in OTAs next week.

Ayers is working his way back from offseason knee surgery and hasn't been cleared for the Titans' voluntary minicamp. His exact timetable is unknown, but there hasn't been any indication he won't be ready for training camp.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers underwent offseason knee surgery.

The full details of the injury aren't yet available, but Ayers apparently played through a knee issue the entire season without missing any time. Depending on his recovery timetable, he could be in a race to get cleared for the Titans' offseason program.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday.

It's the first time he's practiced since missing the final two preseason games with an ankle injury. Ayers is on track to be ready for Week 1 against the Steelers.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers (ankle) is expected to be ready for the season opener.

Ayers missed the Titans' final two preseason games with an ankle injury, but it was never a major concern. He's expected to take on more of a pass rushing role after finishing with six sacks in 2012. Zach Brown (shoulder) is also on track to be ready for Week 1.

SLB Akeem Ayers (ankle) will sit out the Titans' final two preseason games.

Ayers supposedly emerged from Saturday's preseason game with just a "sore ankle" after being carted off, but this suggests he suffered a pretty nice sprain, perhaps even of the "high-ankle" variety. For now, however, he appears on track for Week 1.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers emerged from Saturday night's preseason game with only a sore ankle.

Ayers was carted off, but only as a precaution. Optimistic Titans coaches believe Ayers can be their version of Von Miller in a new hybrid-style, attacking defense under Jerry Gray and Gregg Williams. Ayers is on the LB3 IDP radar.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers was carted off the field in Saturday's preseason game with an ankle injury.

Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray watched all of the Broncos' 2012 tapes for clues on how to utilize SLB Akeem Ayers.

"They have some special pass-rush guys ... but they played linebacker, they were linebacker-type guys," Gray noted. "We've got some similarities." Sort of a poor man's Von Miller, Ayers posted five of his six sacks in the final nine games last year, and Gray is predicting a true breakout campaign in 2013.

The Titans plan to feature SLB Akeem Ayers as an edge rusher on passing downs just as they did in the second half of 2012.

Ayers registered five of his six sacks over the final nine games last season. Per Pro Football Focus, Ayers rushed the quarterback on 29 percent of the passing snaps he played on, good for the third-highest percentage among 4-3 outside linebackers in 2012. Ayers' emergence as a real threat off the edge might explain why the Titans haven't targeted defensive ends in free agency.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers played middle linebacker in nickel packages during the team's regular season finale.

Ayers more than held his own, racking up eight tackles, a sack, two QB hits, and a forced fumble. Colin McCarthy will return to his starting job at middle linebacker in 2013, but this look gives Tennessee some options to consider during the offseason. With Ayers at SAM, McCarthy at MIKE, and impressive rookie Zach Brown at WILL, the Titans theoretically have the makings of a highly promising young linebacker corps entering next season.

The Titans used SLB Akeem Ayers almost exclusively as a defensive end in passing situations in their Week 8 loss to the Colts.

Ayers worked in a rotation with Kamerion Wimbley, playing just 34-of-77 snaps. The move came as a result of the Titans' lack of depth at DE with Dave Ball, Leger Douzable and Keyunta Dawson all landing onon injured reserve. Aside from starters Wimbley and Derrick Morgan, Pannel Egboh and rookie Scott Solomon are the only other defensive ends on the roster. Owners in IDP leagues who have relied on Ayers thus far may want to consider other options going forward due to his decreased time on the field.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers is expected to line up on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher with regularity this season.

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers is concentrating on improving his pass-rushing skills this offseason.

Lacking playmaking ability, Ayers had just two sacks and seven QB pressures to go with 88 tackles as a rookie. New pass-rushing coach Keith Millard is helping Ayers improve his technique, which was often "completely wrong" in 2011. Ayers and DL Jerry Gray both realize it's "real crucial" for the second-year linebacker to improve his sack total.