IRVINE, Calif. -- Apparently it’s about perspective, this grooming of a star quarterback.
To the casual sporting eye, Los Angeles Rams prized rookie Jared Goff had something less than an auspicious NFL debut Saturday, completing 4 of 9 passes for 38 yards and an interception in two first-half series against the Dallas Cowboys.
But coach Jeff Fisher was encouraged, so much so that it’s likely the No. 1 overall pick will get his first reps with the starters this Saturday against the Chiefs.
“I’d like to get Jared some snaps with the ones at some point, and it quite likely would be this week against Kansas City,” Fisher said.
Goff is No. 2 on the Rams' quarterback depth chart behind Case Keenum. Goff took his first reps with the starters in practice last week.
Fisher had planned to also play Goff in the third quarter against the Cowboys, but his non-throwing shoulder was sore after taking a hit, so Fisher shut him down.
“He’ll be fine,” Fisher said Sunday. “He’ll be practicing this week. There are no concerns whatsoever. There’s nothing to report as far as AC separation or things like that. He’s just a little banged up and sore, but was doing well this morning when I saw him in the training room.”
Fisher said the focus was on what Goff failed to do, with little credit given for what he did accomplish. He said a pass over the middle to Pharoh Cooper might have gone for a touchdown if the rookie receiver had held on to the ball.
“Nobody said anything about the throw,” Fisher said. “Step up in the pocket and make a great throw against a coverage which is tough to fit the ball in, and he did that. So from a coach’s standpoint, we see things differently than everybody else. And we’re seeing progress.
“You have no idea what he did on the line of scrimmage. How he checked in and out of things, changed protection. We saw a lot of good things there. The huddle, the tempo, the timing was all there. It’s just progression and that’s what we’re looking for.”
The Rams did have some bad injury news to report on a pair of rookies:
Safety Brian Randolph, signed as a free agent out of Tennessee, suffered a torn ACL and was lost for the year. He will be moved to injured reserve. Said Fisher: “It’s very unfortunate for him. Fortunately for him, he’s gone through it before so we’ll tuck him away and give him an opportunity to compete next year.”
Nelson Spruce, who led the receivers against the Cowboys with six catches for 51 yards and a touchdown, has a sprained knee that is not believed to be serious. Said Fisher: “He’ll probably miss a week or two, but from what I understand surgery is not going to be necessary. So it’s just a matter of him healing up.”