Is Jared Goff’s backup even on the Lions roster?
By Robert Jones
The Detroit Lions are giving Jared Goff the chance to prove he is their quarterback of the future. But is Goff’s backup of the present even on the roster?
In Detroit, after 12 seasons of Matthew Stafford at the helm, it is now Goff’s team. At least for the present.
Stafford, who owns every meaningful passing record in Detroit Lions history is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams. It was Matthew’s trade that brought Jared Goff to Motown. It was that same trade that will help fuel the rebuild of the Honolulu Blue and Silver with the addition of two future first-round picks over the course of the next two years.
Matthew wanted a chance to win. The Lions needed to scrap the course they were on and start over. Therefore the exchange of the two signal-callers, as well as the draft assets Detroit received, was just about all this franchise could ask for to start the rebuild.
This season, for better or worse, Jared Goff is the Lions starting quarterback. Despite his critics, Detroit could do worse. Goff contributed to the Rams run to Super Bowl LIII and has won as many playoff games as Matthew Stafford has participated in during his 12-year career.
The Rams are gambling Stafford will start winning in the postseason with a superior supporting cast. The Lions are gambling that Jared Goff can resurrect his career in the Motor City after two turnover plagued seasons in Los Angeles.
This season will be Goff’s opportunity to prove he can bounce back and become the franchise quarterback he was expected to be when the Rams selected him number one overall in the 2016 NFL draft. There is no threat to Jared’s claim as the Lions starter.
However, that lack of a threat also means that if Jared gets injured, who will line up under center? With neither Tim Boyle nor David Blough being all that impressive, the question begs to be asked if Goff’s backup is even on the roster right now?