Rams replace QB Foles with Keenum for Ravens game

St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced Monday that Case Keenum will start at quarterback for the Rams in Sunday’s game against the Ravens in Baltimore.

Fisher said he had been over the last “four to five weeks” looking at the “big picture” in the production of the offense.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles, left, scrambles away from… “This is my decision. Nobody came down the hall and said this is what we need to do”.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles, left, scrambles away from Chicago Bears defenders Will Sutton (93) and Lamarr Houston (99) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, November 15, 2015, in St. Louis. He was 0-for-12 in passes thrown more than 10 yards. Foles has been a huge disappointment with 1,678 passing yards, only seven touchdowns and six interceptions in nine starts. Long had been hoping to play against the Bears, but it was chose to hold him out at least another week. Considering Foles’ poor play both in 2014 and this season, it will be virtually impossible to get any other team to take on the contract, and the Rams would be set back cap-wise by trying to cut him. The Rams, and 178.7 yards per game, are dead last in passing offense, and 31st in total offense despite the presence of Todd Gurley.

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has been benched in favor of Case Keenum.

“I’m not saying this is week-to-week, but this is what’s best right now for our team as we move forward from a production standpoint offensively”, Fisher said. “But, I need more production and it starts with that position”.

For the foreseeable future, Keenum will be under center. The extension was worth a little more than $24 million with nearly $14 million in guaranteed money, according to Spotrac.

Fisher explained his motive for the switch.

“He just needs a break right now”, said head coach Jeff Fisher. “Nick understands he eventually will be under center for us again”. The Rams sent a 2016 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans on the opening day in free agency for Keenum.

The Eagles appeared to sour on Foles last season, when he threw 10 interceptions in eight games and his yards per attempt dipped from 9.12 in 2013 to 6.96 in 2014. The Texans got him back from that practice squad in December.

The Rams traded for Foles and Keenum in March. Keenum has a slighty lower completion percentage than Foles, with a 55.2 percentage rate.