Plucky wide receiver Dane Looker deserves a shout-out from all Rams fans. Looker, who is in his eighth NFL season, seems to be in a battle every summer to land a roster spot, and yet he always does. That certainly was the case this year, after the Rams spent two of their first four draft picks on WRs Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton.

Again, Looker beat the odds and made the team. Now, let’s take a look at his season:

*Looker caught at least one pass in each of the first four games, averaging a solid 18 yards per reception.

*He suffered a concussion in Week 4, vs. Buffalo, and a CAT scan revealed a rare abnormality in his brain that was diagnosed as a dolichoectatic artery, which means that it’s slightly larger and longer than normal.

*Over the next four weeks, Looker was among the inactives three times and played sparingly in the other game. As Avery, Burton and Derek Stanley emerged, Looker was shoved out of the picture.

*Still, Looker persevered in practice, even playing in the secondary with the scout team, before getting back into action Nov. 19 vs. the Jets. He caught two passes in that game and two the next week at San Francisco, including a 2-yard TD grab.

*In the past two games, Looker has totaled a team-leading 10 catches for 98 yards.

“Ever since the Jets game, I’ve been more involved. I just got a few more balls today,” he said after Sunday’s 16-12 loss to the Dolphins. Looker had six receptions, the second-highest total of his career and the most since he caught eight passes vs. the Giants in 2005.

With 20 catches for 235 passes, Looker is on pace for the second-most-productive season of his career.

Looker, 32, has been nursing a sore knee. Coach Jim Haslett reported Monday that he also suffered hand and thumb injuries Sunday. “He’s got a little bit of everything,” Haslett quipped. But, typically, Looker is expected to practice Wednesday and be ready to go Sunday at Arizona.

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Notes & quotes:

*Ever-improving Victor Adeyanju recorded seven tackles Sunday — highest among the Rams’ defensive linemen — and had two QB pressures.

*With two more Sunday, S Oshiomogho Atogwe has forced seven fumbles this year.

*For Antonio Pittman to establish himself as a suitable backup for Steven Jackson, he must become a better pass-catcher. Pittman dropped both balls thrown his way vs. the Dolphins.

*Daniel Fells had three catches and is emerging as the top receiving TE on the squad.

*P Donnie Jones leads the NFL in gross average (49.7 yards) and is No. 3 (but first in the NFC) in net average (40.7). “I do think he’s a Pro Bowler,” Haslett said Monday.

All for now . . .