Former Rams WR Stedman Bailey Still Hoping To Return To NFL

Former Rams WR Stedman Bailey took in the team’s practice this past weekend and believes he could still make the team’s 53-man roster.

“I feel like I should be out there,” Bailey said, via ESPN.com. “I know for a fact that I can make the 53-man roster right now. Like, somebody’s job would be in trouble. That’s just how I feel. Not to be cocky or anything, but it’s that hunger; the hunger that I have. I know what I can do.”

Bailey was shot in the face nearly two years ago and neurologists fear that football could make him more susceptible to brain trauma.

Even so, Bailey sounds like he wants to make a serious attempt at a comeback.

“I miss the game so much,” Bailey said. “I owe it to myself to give everything that I’ve got to get back on the field.”

Bailey added that he’s “very hopeful” he’ll be able to make it happen.

“Very hopeful,” said Bailey. “You’ve already seen a miracle of me surviving what I’ve been through.”

The Rams officially waived Bailey with a non-football injury designation during the offseason, making him a free agent.

Bailey joined West Virginia’s coaching staff during July of last year as a student assistant and enrolled as a full-time student to complete his bachelor’s degree in commincations.

Bailey, 26, is a former third-round pick of the Rams back in 2013. He had one year remaining on his four-year, $2.736 million contract that included a $527,400 signing bonus would have mad a base salary of $690,123 in 2017.

In 2015, Bailey caught 12 passes for 182 yards receiving and one touchdown over the course of eight games for the Rams.