Rams release LB Stewart to bring back Pead

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- On Monday, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said running back Isaiah Pead was back in the fold after serving his one-game suspension. On Tuesday, the Rams made the corresponding roster move necessary to bring Pead back to the active 53-man roster. 

To clear room for Pead, the Rams released linebacker Jonathan Stewart. The team made no official announcement other than to list Stewart as waived in the transactions portion of its weekly release. 

Stewart's release doesn't come as a huge surprise given that he missed last week's game with a hip injury and was inactive anyway. It does leave the Rams with just five linebackers, a position that was already short on experience and bodies. 

The Rams are now carrying five running backs including Pead, Daryl Richardson, Zac Stacy,Benny Cunningham and Chase Reynolds. Although that seems like a big number, Reynolds and Cunningham are considered core special teams players and it's likely the Rams opted to keep all of their backs for that reason. 

Stewart remains practice squad eligible and it would logical if he was brought back in that capacity. The Rams cleared a spot in that group Tuesday also, waiving cornerback Darren Woodard.