Case Keenum

Rams' Sean Mannion Likely to Start if Jared Goff is Out

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:49 p.m. ET

Fansided, Michael Moraitis/FanSided via Ramblin' Fan

There might be a Sean Mannion sighting in Week 16!

With Jared Goff still going through the concussion protocol and his status uncertain for this week, it’s looking like Sean Mannion could get the start against the San Francisco 49ers.

Mannion, who was a third-round pick of the Rams in 2015, has yet to throw a pass this season and has been inactive for 13 of the team’s 14 games.

As things have gotten progressively worse for the Rams offense in 2016, people are wondering where Mannion has been, especially with current backup Case Keenum set to leave town following the season.

Well, it appears Week 16 will be the week in which Mannion is finally active again, as interim head coach John Fassel hinted at on Monday, per Myles Simmons of the team’s official website:

“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.”

Sean Mannion Should’ve Been Named Backup Weeks Ago

With Goff still being in the concussion protocol on Tuesday, his status is up in the air and Mannion will likely get the start if Goff is out. At worst, it looks like Mannion will be the Rams’ No. 2 on Saturday if Goff does play.

While he might be an actual starter this week, Mannion is just happy to be considered the backup to Goff:

“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.”

This is a move the Rams should have made a long time ago as the season has been over for weeks now.

Keenum has no future with this team and Mannion is likely to be the backup next season, so why wait any longer to make the move? In a scenario like last week where Goff was knocked out, it would have been the perfect time to give Mannion a look.

Granted, nobody is expecting Mannion to be the savior of this franchise by any means, but he at least deserves a shot if the opportunity presents itself.