Talk about your debut seasons . . .

North Carolina State wide receiver Torry Holt joined the Rams in 1999 after being the sixth overall selection in the draft. He caught 52 passes for 788 yards — both NFL highs for rookies that year — during the Rams’ improbable run to the Super Bowl championship a year after going 4-12.

Holt’s 9-yard touchdown reception from Kurt Warner put the Rams up 16-0 in the third quarter en route to their 23-16 victory over the Titans.

On Sunday in Philadelphia, Holt will kick off his 10th season in the league.

“A decade of Torry,” Holt said with a laugh Friday in the locker room at Rams Park. “I’m excited that I have an opportunity to go into my 10th season. This is a very important season for me.”

The seven-time Pro Bowler’s contract is due to expire after next season. Where he’ll be playing in 2010 is very much in question. In the meantime, Holt is feeling frisky at age 32.

“I feel a lot better than what I did at this time last year,” said Holt, who has had knee problems in recent years. “Last year, maybe due to the injury, my confidence was a little rattled. But this year, I feel a lot more comfortable, a lot more stable, going into Week 1.”

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Notes & quotes:

>>Rookie WR Donnie Avery (knee) won’t suit up vs. the Eagles, but CB Fakhir Brown (shoulder), RB Brian Leonard (shoulder) and center Brett Romberg (hand) are expected to.

>>RB Antonio Pittman, on the extensive work he got with the first team while Steven Jackson was holding out: “It helps the guys have faith in you when you get in there. We’ve got a feel for each other. They’re all aware of what I can do. It makes a lot of difference when you come in and (the offensive linemen) know what kind of runner they have behind them.”

>>Jackson estimates that he’s averaged 12 hours a day at Rams Park over the last couple of weeks, hustling to catch up after his 27-day holdout.
>>Scott Linehan, on the Rams’ relative lack of injuries: “I really feel the health of our team is a real bright spot now.”

>>G Richie Incognito said the O-line benefited because it learned new coordinator Al Saunders’ complex system as a unit. “We all started from scratch,” Incognito pointed out. “We didn’t know anything. By us learning together, and making mistakes together, that has brought us closer.”
All for now . . . more Sunday from Philly.