Report: Goff, Wolford expected to battle for starting QB role

Jared Goff isn't guaranteed to open the 2021 season as the Los Angeles Rams' starting quarterback.

The Rams are expected to hold an open competition between Goff - assuming he remains on the roster - and John Wolford for the starting job, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Both head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead have failed in recent weeks to assure Goff's role moving forward. Snead only went so far as to say Goff is the team's quarterback "right now." The relationship between the signal-caller and his coach is also reportedly strained.

The top selection in the NFL draft just five years ago, Goff opened this past season as the team's starter but his production slipped down the stretch. A thumb injury led to Wolford starting near the end of the campaign.

Wolford started the regular-season finale and remained the top choice for the wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks despite Goff being active. He was later removed from that contest due to injury, leading to Goff taking over.

The Rams were reportedly impressed by Wolford's performance throughout the season, Rapoport added. The 25-year-old threw for 260 yards and added another 58 yards with his legs over two starts.

Goff tossed 20 touchdowns to 13 interceptions for the season and finished with a passer rating under 90 in four of his last seven games.

Goff inked a four-year, $134-million contract in September 2019 and carries a $34-million cap hit this year, according to Spotrac. The Rams would sustain a $65.5-million dead cap hit if he's dealt or cut.