Rams' Goff remains questionable to play Saturday

Sep 21, 2017 - 7:49 PM THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Rams will have been off for eight days by the time they play the San Francisco 49ers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday.

The extra time off should benefit rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who was knocked from last Thursday's blowout in Seattle and spent this week in concussion protocol.

Goff was listed as a full practice participant Wednesday, but his status for Saturday remains in question. If he can't play, there is a good chance the Rams will roll with second-year quarterback Sean Mannion, who has been inactive for all but one game this season.

Even if Goff does get clearance to start, Mannion will likely dress as the backup. That means former starter Case Keenum will be deactivated.

It all makes sense as Keenum isn't likely to be with the Rams next year while Mannion is slated to back up Goff.

It behooves the Rams to get an idea what they have in Mannion, whose appeared in just one game and thrown seven passes during two seasons after being selected in the third round in 2015 out of Oregon State.

"We've talked about both (QBs) Case (Keenum) and Sean (Mannion). We'd love to get Sean some reps in the situation like last week, where something happens to Jared -- whether he can't find his helmet or his shoelace breaks -- get Sean in there for a little bit of work," Rams interim coach John Fassel said. "Which would be good, to see Sean. Case has performed well when required, but it would be good for the team to get a look at Sean and see what he can do if pressed into service by necessity."

That is a team-wide consideration over the last two weeks of the season as the Rams hope to get long looks at a number of younger players, including Goff.

And while Fassel is likely just a placeholder for a permanent coach, he is doing the best he can to nudge him along. That process began with a pregame chat before the Seahawks game and at times during the game.

"Yeah, I did. Before the game we shared a good little conversation,'' Fassel said. "And then during the game, I didn't feel like I should offer any input, as far as performance, but I just said, 'Hang, tough man. Great throw. Come on, move the chains,' just kind of encouragement more than coaching, I guess you could say.

"Before, I didn't want to say that I wanted to steer clear of the quarterback room, it was just something, based on my role before, that I didn't have the opportunity to do. I'm excited to be involved just a little bit more and learn about the quarterback room just a little bit more, because I think we have a really good quarterback. He's tough, he's talented, he moves in the pocket. So it'll be fun for me to witness him over the next two weeks, get better."