Rams 'anticipate' having Jared Goff for 49ers game, says John Fassel

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. --Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff still has some hurdles to clear as he navigates the NFL's concussion protocol, but interim coach John Fassel said they "anticipate having him" for Saturday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Goff was a full participant in Tuesday's practice but would have to come out of it without symptoms in order to be cleared.

Goff, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, absorbed a vicious hit from Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in the fourth quarter of Thursday's 24-3 loss and was taken to the locker room for evaluation. Through five games, all losses, Goff has struggled, completing 54.7 percent of his passes, averaging 5.46 yards per attempt and posting a 24.6 Total QBR.

If Goff can't go, the Rams are giving serious consideration to starting Sean Mannion, a third-round pick in 2015 who has spent almost the entire season as a third-string, inactive quarterback. Regardless, it looks like Mannion will at least be the backup for the last two games, andCase Keenum, who was the starting quarterback for the first nine games, will be inactive.

Fassel spoke to Keenum, a free agent at season's end, about that possibility a couple of days ago.

"Case is a true pro," Fassel said. "He said, 'I don't love it, but I understand that if that happens, I get it.' Really, that was it. I just told him this is what we were possibly thinking. He said, 'I understand.'"