Rams will not be penalized for Case Keenum concussion

Last Sunday, during the St. Louis Rams 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Case Keenum suffered an obvious concussion in the final minutes of the game. Earlier, the NFL stated they would not be fining the Rams for allowing Keenum to stay in the game without being checked over by the team’s training staff.[related-caegory]

The following play after Keenum suffered the concussion resulted in a strip sack by Ravens defensive end Timmy Jernigan. Baltimore took possession and kicked a last-second field goal for the win.

Previous starter Nick Foles will get the call against Cincinnati this week after Keenum failed to successfully complete the league’s concussion protocol. Foles was benched in favor of Keenum last week in hopes of providing a much needed spark for a sputtering St. Louis offense.

Nov 15, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) drops back for a pass during a game against the Chicago Bears at the Edward Jones Dome. The Bears won the game 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, that was not the case, and now the team will turn their attention back to Foles. Foles has thrown for 1,678-yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Foles has completed 56 percent of his passes and has a total QBR of 33.0 for the season.

St. Louis may be without other notable players on Sunday as well. Defensive end Robert Quinn (hip/back), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (thigh), tackle Rob Havenstein (calf) and kick Greg Zuerlein (right groin) are all questionable against the Bengals. Quinn, Johnson and Havenstein missed practice all week, and reading between the lines, it appears none of the three will be available Sunday.

The Rams also signed kicker Zach Hocker as a contingency plan if Zuerlein can’t go. Hocker was drafted in the seventh-round of the 2014 draft by the Washington Redskins. After failing to make the team, Hocker spent time with the Miami Dolphins before catching on with the New Orleans Saints. After going 9 for 13 on field goal tries, the Saints released Hocker. In order to make room on the roster for Hocker, the Rams released tight end Justice Cunningham.

Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal has already been ruled out for the game in Cincinnati.