THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) – A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that quarterback Jared Goff will make his NFL debut on Sunday when the No. 1 pick starts for the Los Angeles Rams.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because Rams coach Jeff Fisher hadn’t made the official announcement. Los Angeles (4-5) hosts the Miami Dolphins this weekend at the Coliseum, where Rams fans chanted “We want Goff!” two weeks ago during a loss to Carolina.
Goff watched the first nine games of his rookie season on the sideline for the Rams, who have scored an NFL-worst 15.4 points per game with one of the league’s least successful offenses. Veteran Case Keenum has started every game, passing for 2,169 yards with 11 interceptions and nine TDs.
After weeks of increasing scrutiny on the offense’s struggles, the Rams finally decided to see what they’ve got in Goff. Los Angeles couldn’t score a touchdown in last weekend’s 9-6 victory over the New York Jets, failing to reach the end zone for the third time in nine games.
Los Angeles traded several top draft picks to Tennessee in April to move up to draft Goff, hoping to solve years of underperformance at the NFL’s most important position. The Rams also traded up to make a splash in their return to Los Angeles after a 21-year sojourn in St. Louis, where they hadn’t made the playoffs since 2004 or had a winning record since 2003.