Case Keenum not happy about being replaced by Jared Goff as the Rams’ starting quarterback

It was only a matter of time, a foregone conclusion after the Rams selected Jared Goff with the first pick of the NFL draft.

Offensive coordinator Rob Boras recognized it and Case Keenum acknowledged as much Wednesday, the day after Coach Fisher removed Keenum as the starting quarterback and elevated Goff, who will make his debut Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at the Coliseum.

Despite the Rams’ ranking as the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL, Keenum said he was surprised by the timing of the decision.

And he was not happy about it.

“That’s why I play football,” he said after practice. “To be the quarterback, to be the guy with the ball in his hands.”

Keenum, a fifth-year pro and team captain, was resolute and feisty while meeting with reporters, but said he trusted Fisher, would continue to be a great teammate to Goff and would remain prepared if called upon.

Keenum, 28, is now the backup for a team that is 4-5. The Rams ended a four-game losing streak last week with a 9-6 victory over the New York Jets.

It apparently proved to be a turning point for Fisher after weeks of adamantly saying Keenum was not the issue for the offensive woes.

Keenum has passed for nine touchdowns, with 11 interceptions.

“There’s always stuff I could have done better,” said Keenum, who is earning $3.6 million on a one-year contract, “but I thought I put my team in a chance to win.”

The Rams traded six draft picks to the Tennessee Titans for the opportunity to move up from No. 15 to No. 1 to select Goff.

Boras praised Keenum — “I love him dearly,” he said — but indicated the change to Goff was inevitable.

“When we drafted Jared where we did, everybody knew what was going to happen,” Boras said. “It was just a question of when.”

Keenum was designated the starter before the draft but his status was tenuous after the Rams chose Goff. Fisher described the former California standout as “our franchise quarterback.”

Keenum said he did not let the situation affect him.

“I know you could look at it and say what they traded away for a first overall pick, so I guess it was going to happen at some point,” he said. “But in my mind it was my team.

“That’s the way I viewed it. It was my offense and I took ownership of it.”

Starting Sunday, the offense belongs to the 22-year-old Goff.

Whether that improves offensive productivity and scoring remains to be seen, but there is plenty of room to move upward. The Rams rank 31^st in the NFL in offense, 25^th in passing, 29^th in rushing and last in scoring.

Fisher reiterated that with Goff at the helm, the offense would be “opening up” rather than being scaled back.

At 6-foot-4, Goff is several inches taller than Keenum, who is generously listed at 6-2. That is only one element that could positively affect the offense, Boras said.

“It’s a big man’s game at a lot of positions,” he said. “He’s tall, he can see.”

Miami enters the game riding a four-game winning streak.

First-year Coach Adam Gase and his staff are scrambling to prepare for Goff. The rookie has not played since the exhibition season, when he completed 22 of 49 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions and three fumbles.

“Our information is limited as far as what he’s put on tape at this level,” Gase said. “Our ability to at least tell our players strengths and weaknesses is very limited.”

Goff continued to take first-team reps during Wednesday’s practice, and he is expected to continue preparing on Thursday’s players day off.

Fisher sounded a note of caution about evaluating Goff too quickly.

“It’s not going to be easy,” he said of Sunday’s game. “There’s going to be some negative plays that always happen in games, but he’ll overcome them.

“We have to put him in position to make some quick decisions, get rid of the football, and make some plays.”

Keenum said he would remain prepared if needed.

“I’ll be ready to go,” he said, “if my name’s called again.”

Quick hits

End Robert Quinn (illness), who was released from the hospital Tuesday, did not practice. End Eugene Sims (concussion protocol), cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (ankle), center Tim Barnes (foot) and receiver Nelson Spruce (calf) also did not practice…. Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert was ruled out for Sunday’s game because of a dislocated left wrist. Albert was injured during last week’s victory over San Diego.