The Nick Foles era is over. Unless it isn’t.
Although Rams coach Jeff Fisher has benched quarterback Nick Foles for Case Keenum, Fisher told reporters on Monday that Foles will be back. Not could be back. Will be back.
“I need more production and it starts with that position,” Fisher said. “As I told Case, he doesn’t have a short leash. We’re going to let him play. We’re going to use his legs and let him make some plays.”
But while the leash isn’t short, there’s apparently still a leash.
“Nick also understands that he eventually will be under center for us again,” Fisher said. “But this is my decision based on what I think is best for this team offensively is to go this direction.”
Like all decisions, this one is still subject to change.
“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. “They all need to play better. The receivers need to play better. The tight ends need to play better. [Tackle] Greg Robinson needs to play better. They all need to play better. Nick didn’t fumble the ball on the 17-yard line, nor did he give up two explosive plays for over 80 yards. It’s not his fault. We all need to play better. But I’m confident that right now this is the right decision for us as we move forward.”
The next question is whether the Rams regret the decision to bring Foles to St. Louis, or the decision to give him amodest contract extension. He wasn’t asked those questions; Fisher answered them pre-emptively.
“By no means do we regret the trade,” Fisher said. “By no means do we regret the extension. Nick is a good quarterback. He’s captain of this football team. But at this point right now, based on where we are offensively, I feel this is the direction we have to go.”
It’s the right decision, and it always makes sense to make a change instead of compounding a bad situation. But it’s hard not to wonder whether the Rams will move on from Foles after the season, regardless of whether he makes it back under center this year. With running back Todd Gurley and receiver Tavon Austin becoming the focal point of the offense, the Rams could make a good quarterback look great.
Then again, they’ve somehow made their average quarterback look bad so far this year.