Rams QB Case Keenum, who’ll start against Chiefs, thrives in his spot atop depth chart

In four previous NFL seasons, Case Keenum always played in the second half of exhibition openers, a time reserved for backups and rookies trying to make a team.

Keenum is the Rams’ starting quarterback for now, so his work during last week’s exhibition victory over the Dallas Cowboys was done before the end of the second quarter.

“It was definitely different,” he said Monday. “That’s the first time in a first preseason game I haven’t played in the second half.”

Keenum is enjoying — and thriving in — his first training camp atop a depth chart. He will start again Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Coliseum.

If not for a dropped pass by receiver Tavon Austin, Keenum would have completed all seven of his passes in the 28-24 victory over the Cowboys that served as the pro debut for rookie Jared Goff and a coming-out of sorts for second-year pro Sean Mannion.

Goff practiced Monday and showed no ill effects of the shoulder soreness that Coach Jeff Fisher said caused him to limit Goff to two series against the Cowboys. Fisher said Sunday that Goff would “quite likely” take some first-team snaps against the Chiefs.

Mannion remained even-keeled after passing for three second-half touchdowns against the Cowboys. He said he would like to have back a pass that was intercepted, but otherwise was pleased.

“I definitely felt much more comfortable in this preseason than in last year’s,” he said.

Asked if he felt left out because of the attention directed at Goff and his challenge to unseat Keenum, the former Oregon State standout said he was self-motivated.

“I don’t worry about attention,” Mannion said. “That has nothing to do with the way you play on the field.”

Keenum also appears to be enjoying the opportunity to work outside the glare of the Goff spotlight.

In preparing for the Chiefs, he said he was aiming to play with more urgency and to improve his movement in the pocket to facilitate delivering a pass “with some juice behind it.”

Fisher praised the veteran for his preparation and doing “everything he needed to do,” as the starter.

“As we expand this offense through training camp, he’s going to have a lot more opportunities to make those big plays,” Fisher said.

The Rams have three exhibitions before Fisher must decide who will start the Sept. 12 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”

He reiterated Monday that he was in no hurry to make a decision.

“It’s unfair to Jared and to Case and Sean to say, ‘All right, here’s the date,’” Fisher said.

Fisher said he was happy with the play of all three.

“It’s just a matter of Case leading this football team, Sean positioning himself to come in and back up if need be and then Jared just pushing himself to where he eventually becomes that guy for us,” he said.

Starting point

Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree acknowledged that the defense was misaligned at times against the Cowboys, but he expects improvement against the Chiefs.

Ogletree said he “had a pretty good game” in his debut at the position that also marked his first game action since he suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 last season.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said, “but I’m definitely happy with what I put on film this past weekend.”

As the defensive signal-caller, Ogletree took responsibility for the misalignments.

“It definitely falls on me,” he said. “I talk to the guys, show them the pictures, show them what we’re supposed to be doing.

“They definitely listen to what I say and they take pride in what they do too.”

Getting close

The Rams secondary remains under scrutiny after Dallas rookie quarterback Dak Prescott played like a veteran — and cornerbacks Coty Sensabaugh and Lamarcus Joyner gave up touchdown passes.

Cornerback E.J. Gaines, sidelined against the Cowboys because of a hamstring issue, said Monday that he expected to return against the Chiefs.

It would be his first game action since 2014, when he started 15 games. Gaines suffered a season-ending foot injury during training camp last season.

“I’m excited to get back on the field,” he said, “because it’s been a year.”

Gaines anticipates a short transition period.

“I think it will just take a little bit, a quarter or so, to get my feet back under me as far as game play goes,” he said. “Because they can simulate it out here on the [practice] field, but there’s nothing like game speed.”

Notes

The Rams waived injured safety Brian Randolph and signed safety Michael Caputo. Randolph suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Cowboys. Fisher said Sunday that he would at some point be put on injured reserve and would have a chance to compete next season. Caputo played at Wisconsin, signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent and was waived in May. He worked out for the Rams a few weeks ago, Fisher said. … Fisher on left tackle Greg Robinson’s play against the Cowboys: “This may have been the best preseason game that Greg has played to date.”… Rookie tight end Temarrick Hemingway had what appeared to be his best day of training camp, catching two touchdown passes from Goff during seven-on-seven drills. … Coaches put the Rams through extra running at the end of practice. Fisher said it was not punitive, but something the Rams have done traditionally through the exhibition schedule.

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