Goff ready despite no preseason play
Rams quarterback Jared Goff watched his team’s entire preseason from the sideline. He hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since January, when he lost his first NFL playoff start.
When he steps onto the field in Oakland on Monday night for a game against the Raiders, the Novato native will be eager to show how he’s grown during eight long months without real football.
For fans expecting a thrilling encore to last season’s utter transformation by Goff and the Rams’ offense, he plans to have a little something for them.
“There’s a bunch of stuff we’ve been working on this offseason that we’re ready to display on Monday night,” said Goff, who played at Marin Catholic-Kentfield and Cal. “A lot of the stuff is from last season that we’re going to continue to do, and then a lot of new stuff that we’re doing.”
Goff got no preseason snaps because head coach Sean McVay decided he didn’t want to play his first-string offensive line, which started 15 consecutive games together last season and played a major role in keeping Goff upright.
Roster moves: The Lions signed running back Donnel Pumphrey to their practice squad, the NFL Network reported. Pumphrey, the Eagles’ fourth-round pick last year, was waived by Philadelphia on Saturday. The NCAA career rushing leader from San Diego State missed all of last season because of a hamstring injury. ... The Cowboys signed former Stanford defensive tackle Aziz Shittu to their practice squad. Shittu was released by the Eagles on Saturday . ... The Eagles placed former Cal tight end Richard Rodgers on injured reserve because of a knee injury and re-signed wide receiver Markus Wheaton, whom they had waived Saturday . ... The Chiefs signed backup offensive lineman Cam Erving to a three-year, $10 million contract, the Kansas City Star reported. Kansas City acquired the former firstround draft pick from the Browns last year . ... The Giants signed linebacker Nate Stupar, his agents announced on Twitter. Stupar, 30, was released by the Saints this week.
Briefly: Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski could earn as much as $4.3 million in incentives that were added to his contract last week, it was revealed. The restructured deal means Gronkowski could earn $12.3 million this season and $13.3 million next year. “It’s definitely a relief to have that all out of the way,” Gronkowski said . ... The Cardinals’ home field is changing its name to State Farm Stadium. The facility has been known as University of Phoenix Stadium since it opened in 2006.