Case Keenum isn’t paying attention to what’s being said about Rams’ quarterback situation

A warm ovation washed over Case Keenum last weekend.

Keenum, the Rams starting quarterback, was on the field at TDECU Stadium in Texas, where the University of Houston retired his college jersey No. 7 in honor of his record-setting career for the Cougars.

On Sunday, when the Rams resume their schedule against the Carolina Panthers, Keenum will probably receive a more reserved and circumspect welcome from fans at the Coliseum.

And it may come with a few shouts to retire Keenum as the starter and replace him with Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

Keenum had four passes intercepted in an Oct. 23 loss to the New York Giants in London, a defeat that extended the Rams’ losing streak to three games and dropped their record to 3-4.

With an open date last week – a seemingly natural demarcation point in the season -- it also renewed pressure on the Rams to play Goff.

Not that Keenum listens or reads the chatter.

“I don’t pay attention to a lot of that,” he said after practice Wednesday.

He doesn’t need to.

Coach Jeff Fisher made it clear after the loss to the Giants that Keenum would remain the starter.

Goff, who received a four-year, $28-million contract that included an $18.5-million signing bonus, has not played during the regular season. He took some developmental first-team reps during a bye-week practice, but Keenum remains the starter for a team that is in third place in the NFC West.

Offensive coordinator Rob Boras said a few weeks ago that Goff had progressed to the point where he was asking advanced questions about the offense and various situations. Goff showed further development during practice last week, Boras said Wednesday.

“You could just see the confidence with what was going on,” Boras said. “The wheels weren’t turning when he got up to the line of scrimmage, and he was real accurate, and decisive with what he was doing.”

Goff is prepared to play, Boras said.

“If his number gets called, we know he’s capable and ready to go out there and play,” he said.

When that time will arrive, of course, has been the main topic surrounding the Rams since they traded up 14 spots in the draft and chose Goff over Carson Wentz.

Wentz has started every game for the Philadelphia Eagles and rookie Dak Prescott is flourishing for the Dallas Cowboys while Goff only observes games from the sideline.

Keenum has passed for eight touchdowns, with eight interceptions, including three that were returned for touchdowns.

Against the Giants, a pass that should have been caught by Tavon Austin bounced off the receivers’ hands and into the arms of safety Landon Collins, who returned it to the end zone. Keenum’s final pass was picked off in the end zone when receiver Brian Quick apparently missed a signal to change a route.

After seven games, there remains a search for consistency.

“He’s played well, and played really well at times,” Boras said. “Then there’s plays, just like every position, that you want to have back. Really pleased with his leadership and what he’s providing for us.”

Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly does not anticipate that Keenum will be lacking in confidence on Sunday.

“He’s going to be even more motivated to play well, especially at home,” Kuechly said during a teleconference. “I don’t think it’s going to be one of those things that, ‘Oh man, we can do this and that.’ I think it’s, ‘Oh, we got to make sure we’re ready to go,’ because he’s going to prepare, he’s going to compete.”

Quick hits

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson, sidelined two-plus games because of an ankle injury, was limited, but Fisher indicated that Johnson wanted to do more. … Defensive end William Hayes (ankle) and receiver Nelson Spruce (calf) did not practice. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers (thigh) and guard Jamon Brown (hand) were limited.