NFL Rumors: Rams’ Case Keenum May Fall to 3rd on Depth Chart

Newly demoted Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum may end up falling even further down the depth chart.

Case Keenum might yet again lose his job, this time as the backup quarterback. The Los Angeles Rams signal-caller’s impending free agency coupled with his demotion has made him expendable, especially with the team having an eye towards the future.

It’s safe to say Keenum won’t be returning next season after losing his job to No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. The veteran quarterback believes he’s a starter and he’ll go out and search for a different team to give him a chance. Whether or not he succeeds in finding a match is anyone’s guess.

So with that in mind, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are saying that Sean Mannion, last year’s third-round pick, could surpass Keenum on the depth chart as the team’s backup, leaving Keenum inactive every week:

"Although Case Keenum will move into a backup role behind top draft pick Jared Goff, it is very possible he will be relegated to No. 3 and game-inactive if the Rams fall out of contention. Sean Mannion, last year’s third-round pick who opened the season as the No. 2, could move up on the depth chart, especially with Keenum headed to free agency next year."

While Schefter and Mortensen do note that the Rams will have to be out of playoff contention to make the move, it’s not like that’s very far off.  The Rams are 4-5 at the moment and remain a good defensive team that is lost on offense.

Can the Rams Make the Playoffs?

At best the Rams will sneak into the playoffs, a scenario that sounds silly when said out loud given how things have transpired this season. Goff would have to me a major upgrade over Keenum to make the playoffs a reality.

Mannion started the season as the Rams’ No. 2, which led to a firestorm of speculation that Goff was badly behind. Eventually the rookie moved ahead of Mannion and we’ve only heard about him through the pleas of Rams fans to replace Keenum with anyone.

After being replaced by Goff, Keenum explained how he was a captain and a leader. It looks like he might have to do that from the inactive list soon.

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