The wait is over for Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who will start his first NFL game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
It took 11 weeks, but the Rams finally made the switch to their first overall quarterback on Tuesday.
“Anxiety is over,” Goff said, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. “I’m good now. I’m confident and ready to go. Ready to play, ready to get back to playing football. Back to doing what I love — my job — and hopefully it’s the start of what will be a long career.”
The Rams traded up to the first overall pick to draft Goff, but head coach Jeff Fisher decided to let his young quarterback learn from the sidelines to start the 2016 season. Goff was inactive for Week 1, and the backup to Case Keenum the past nine weeks.
Goff believes he’s ready to play.
“I’m thankful for that experience and thankful for everything that I’ve gathered over the last however many weeks it’s been,” Goff said. “But at the same time, I think it’s time, and I think I’m ready; ready to move forward and play.”
The Rams need him to be ready. Despite a 4-5 record, Los Angeles currently ranks 32nd in the NFL in scoring at 15.4 points per game. And Keenum is going to the bench with a 76.8 passer rating, which ranks 30th among qualified quarterbacks this season.
The Rams could use the spark at the game’s most important position.
“Whatever it takes,” Goff said. “If that’s a lot of touchdowns, a lot of yards, if that’s handing the ball off a lot — whatever it is, I want to win. I want to be the quarterback for this team for a long time.”
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