Monday NFL buzz: Bills WR Watkins not yet cleared
Check back throughout the day for all the latest quick-hit news:
Keenum keeps Rams job
The Los Angeles Rams will not be making a change at quarterback this week, head coach Jeff Fisher said Monday.
“He’s No. 2, he’s a play away from playing,” Fisher said of No. 1 draft pick Jared Goff, who has yet to take a snap this season.
That means Case Keenum remains the starter, even after a third game in which the Rams failed to score a touchdown. But L.A. is 2-1 in those games, including a 9-6 win Sunday against the New York Jets.
“Certainly we’re disappointed when you look at it at a stats perspective, but when you look at it big picture we’re 2-1 when we haven’t scored a touchdown, so I don’t know what you guys are making such a big deal about scoring touchdowns for,” Fisher said.
Fisher’s voice was laced with sarcasm, and he went on to clarify that he was, indeed, making a joke. Touchdowns do matter, Fisher said, and the Rams’ NFL-worst 15.4 points per game average is not acceptable.
“That’s obviously a big deal. That’s an area that has to improve for us to make the push we want to make,” Fisher said.
But the offense’s failures aren’t all tied to Keenum. The Rams rank 29th in rushing, with just 82.9 yards per game, and second to last in total yards.
Bills WR Watkins not yet cleared
Sammy Watkins is eligible to return to practice this week after being placed on injured reserve with a foot injury, but Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan says trainers have not yet cleared the wide receiver for action.
Watkins can not officially return to game action until a Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bills rank second to last in the NFL in passing offense with 189 yards per game.
Seahawks getting RB back
Thomas Rawls is ready to return from a fractured fibula, Seahawks coach Pete Caroll said Monday.
"Thomas is ready to go," Carroll told 710 Seattle. "He's going to practice to play this week."
Rawls has been out since Week 2, and Seattle's rushing game ranks 30th in the NFL with 77.7 yards per game. As an undrafted rookie last season, Rawls had 830 yards on 147 attempts (5.6 yards per carry) to jolt the Seahawks' ground game.
More O-line trouble for Vikings
The injuries along the offensive line continue to pile up for the Minnesota Vikings.
Offensive tackle Jake Long, who was signed at midseason to fill in for a group missing its normal starters at left and right tackle, will be placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday.
Zimmer added the team would look at its options at that position as well as at kicker. Blair Walsh's struggles continued Sunday with a missed extra point in the Vikings' loss to the Washington Redskins.
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