For Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the first game of his professional career sometimes seems like a distant memory.

Goff stood on the sideline at Levi’s Stadium — 70 miles from where he grew up in Northern California and 40 miles from where he starred at Cal — and watched as the San Francisco 49ers, his childhood team, shutout the Rams in a season opener.

The rookie and No. 1 overall pick did not dress for the game, which aired on Monday Night Football. He was inactive and buried on the depth chart behind Case Keenum and Sean Mannion.nike nfl jerseys cheap china

“It does feel like a long time ago,” Goff said this week. “I guess it was two years ago now. It feels like forever ago and it is kind of ironic.”

The Rams finished that 2016 season 4-12, coach Jeff Fisher was fired and Goff was winless in seven starts.

Two years later, the Rams return to the Bay Area for a season opener — this time against the Oakland Raiders — but again on a Monday night. And Goff is squarely in place as the franchise quarterback for a team considered to be among Super Bowl contenders.china nike nfl jerseys cheap

For Goff, 23, two years have made all of the difference.

“I’ve grown up a lot,” Goff said. “You mature, you learn a lot. You learn a lot about yourself, a lot about the NFL and how to prepare, how to go about your daily business, how you get ready for a game.”

In 2016, the Rams’ offense struggled under Fisher, and Goff was no exception. With the season off to a 4-5 start, Goff replaced Keenum and passed for 1,089 yards and five touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He was sacked 26 times.