Rams quarterback Jared Goff will start when he’s ready. That’s what coach Jeff Fisher consistently has said, both publicly and privately.
So when will Goff be ready? Possibly, by next Sunday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the first overall pick in the 2016 draft “could” make his debut as a starter next Sunday, in a home game against the Dolphins. The “could” qualifier is important here; Schefter isn’t saying that Goff will start, or that he won’t. And while that may cause some to roll their eyes about the report, since there’s really no way it can be wrong, if it’s an accurate description of the team’s current thinking, that’s all that matters.
“The Rams would like to trot out Goff for his first NFL start at home, in front of a friendly and receptive crowd. But before Los Angeles makes that decision, it wants to see how Keenum plays Sunday,” Schefter writes.
It will be interesting to see what Fisher says about this report in his press conference following Sunday’s game against the Jets. ESPN consistently reported that Fisher would have a contract extension before the regular season began, and with Thanksgiving approaching Fisher still hasn’t gotten one (unless it was done secretly with a plan to announce it later, which some believe). It wouldn’t be a shock if Fisher mentions that reporting in an effort to dismiss the notion that Goff “could” play next week.
Regardless of where this stands after Sunday’s game, we will have some more details about the Goff situation on Football Night in America or right here on PFT. Or both.