Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Jared Goff is currently going through the NFL’s concussion protocol after suffering a big hit last Thursday night by Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman.
He has not yet been cleared by to play in Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, although there is no panic yet that he will miss the game.
If he is forced to miss the game that leaves interim head coach John Fassel with Case Keenum and Sean Mannion as his available quarterbacks.
Mannion has not dress for a game since Week 1, as the team only dresses two quarterbacks. But even if Goff is healthy and ready to go Saturday, Mannion could get an opportunity to dress as Fassel recently said he would like to get Mannion some reps as the backup, via Myles Simmons of TheRams.com:
“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, which would be good, to see Sean,” Fassel said following Monday’s practice. “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.”
Mannion relishes the opportunity to get a chance to be the team’s backup and possibly get into a game:
“Obviously, that would be a great opportunity for me,” Mannion said. “I’ve honestly been preparing that way all year. I was the backup Week 1 and then have been the ‘three’ all the way to this point. But my preparation hasn’t changed.”
“Being the backup, I guess, puts you closer to getting into the game,” Mannion added. “But, like I said, all year I’ve prepared as though I’m the one playing, I’m the one starting, and the one who has to go in and win games. So that doesn’t change.”
Mannion saw action in one game last season, completing 6-of-7 passes for 31 yards last November against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also had a very good preseason this past year in limited action, which led to him being the backup in Week 1 over Goff.
Getting Mannion some game action in the last two games of the season could show what he is capable of on a football field, whereas the Rams know what they have in their current backup, Keenum.
