Rams add former Steelers DB to practice squad

The Los Angeles Rams announced two practice squad transactions on Friday, adding running back/special teamer Buddy Howell and safety Antoine Brooks. We can continue to expect the 17-person practice squad to churn players in and out all season, especially with new rules that allow teams to activate up to two players from the practice squad to the 46-man gameday roster during the year.

That means that either Howell, Brooks, or any other Rams practice squad player could always be one play away from suiting up on Sundays.

Brooks was a sixth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, appearing in four games during his rookie season — 29 snaps on defense, 10 snaps on special teams.

The 5’11, 220 lbs Brooks ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 34.5” vertical. As a three-year starter at the University of Maryland (making him college teammates with Rams running back and seventh round pick Jake Funk), Brooks had 232 tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble.

Brooks did not make the Steelers’ 53-man roster coming out of camp last year, but was signed to the practice squad and eventually elevated to the active roster. He was waived on August 24th with an injury designation, then placed on IR, but is now on LA’s practice squad.

Howell is considered to be an ace special teamer. He went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2018 and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Howell has been with the Houston Texans for the last three years but hasn’t played much offense; he has just 21 career carriers for 74 yards. But he’s been a full-time special teams player over the last three seasons with the Texans.