Rams are tempering expectations for Jared Goff's debut in Los Angeles

The Rams realize their first-overall pick is still raw and are realistic about how he'll perform Sunday

First overall pick Jared Goff will make his debut Sunday for the Rams after watching the first nine games, but the team is playing him with tempered expectations, sources said. Goff remains raw; he has not seen a significant uptick in recent practice time and had no advance notice coach Jeff Fisher was going to bench Case Keenum in favor of him this week.

"He didn't know it was coming," a team source said.

Given the limitations of the Rams' offense, and Goff's limited playing and practice time, the club is being realistic, but Fisher decided the need to expedite his development had come. When asked for a possible comparable for what to expect out of Goff early on -- especially when considering the recent prowess of Sunday's opponent (Miami) -- one source close to the situation offered Browns rookie Cody Kessler.

At this point the team is looking for Goff to avoid major, repeated mistakes, make a few big plays and try to manage the game. The fact that the Rams made a bold move to jump up via trade and select Goff with the first overall pick, coupled with the immediate success of novice quarterbacks like Dak Prescott and Trevor Siemian this season, undoubtedly will lead to comparisons, and Rams fans had understandably been calling for Goff given the putrid offense. Team officials, while keeping their fingers crossed that the quarterback change prompts a spark, are also realistic about how much to ask and expect from Goff.