DENVER >> Jared Goff’s awkward samba toward the Rams’ starting quarterback job, a dance that might not end soon, had a couple deft steps Saturday, along with some two-left-feet stumbles.

The Rams’ 17-9 preseason loss to Denver, at Sports Authority Field, seemingly didn’t add much clarity to the team’s quarterback derby, and with time running short, that’s good news for starter Case Keenum.

Asked, after the game, if he felt the need to make any changes to the quarterback depth chart, Coach Jeff Fisher said, “No. We said it’s going to be a process and take time for Jared. He’s going to benefit from the fact that we’re taking time. He will get a chance to play again next week.”

Otherwise, there wasn’t much to report for the Rams’ offense, which settled for three Greg Zuerlein field goals and held a 9-7 lead late in the first half but didn’t score again.

Fisher has been patiently standing on the sideline, waiting for the “ah-hah” moment that will convince him to start Goff, the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, over the capable but less heralded Keenum.

With only two weeks, and one more preseason game, before the Rams’ Sept. 12 season opener at San Francisco, Goff seems to be making incremental improvements but no large strides. His effort against Denver, in which he went 4 for 12 for 45 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions, was uneven.

Goff took over on the Rams’ second possession of the second quarter and played four series, but only one with the first-team offensive line and none with the first-team skill players. The Rams, out of precaution, held out top running back Todd Gurley for the entire game.

The good news? Goff, on his second series, made a spot-on, 14-yard sideline completion to Mike Thomas. On the same drive, he showed good footwork when he stepped up in the pocket and completed a 19-yard pass to Pharoh Cooper, who did a brilliant job in coverage to pull in the ball.

Goff, it should be noted, also made a couple nice throws that were dropped by the Rams’ increasingly underachieving young receivers, including two by Thomas and Duke Williams.

The bad? Goff made a handful of questionable throws into coverage, including one that Denver starting safety Darian Stewart would have turned into an interception and a touchdown, but Stewart dropped the ball. Goff, in his first series, also slid awkwardly after a run but apparently escaped injury.

The Rams, who led 6-0 when Goff took over for Keenum, scored three points while led by Goff. Goff also took a number of hard hits from Denver defenders, including a sack.

Before the game, Fisher told the team’s pregame radio show, on 710-AM, that he had “a pretty good idea who’s starting our opener. I just haven’t come out publicly and said it.”

Asked, after the game, if Keenum had done enough to earn the starting job, Fisher said, “Yeah. I’ve said that all along. Case has been our starter since before the draft. He’s doing fine.”

It’s tough to read that as anything but good news for Keenum, who didn’t exactly dazzle Saturday but was relatively effective in the first quarter against Denver’s stout defense.

Keenum also played four series and went 8 for 12 for 77 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Keenum was asked if he had accomplished what he had hoped in order to win the starting job.

“I don’t know how to answer that question exactly,” Keenum said, “but I feel like I’m playing well, if that’s an answer. I feel like we’re moving the ball well. It’s never perfect. … I feel comfortable in the offense. I think the guys feel comfortable. I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing, and that’s try to win every day and compete my tail off.”

Keenum’s best drive was his third, when he moved the Rams 56 yards in nine plays and completed 4 of 5 attempts. But that drive ended only with a field goal. Keenum also survived a big sideline hit from Denver’s Aqib Talib, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness.

The Rams, in their first two preseason games, had scored sevej touchdowns in seven red-zone entries, but against the Broncos, they had three field goals in three attempts, and also turned the ball over on downs at the Denver 27 in the third quarter.

The news was better for the Rams’ first-string defense, which was excellent on its first three possessions.

The Rams forced two Denver punts, and then defensive lineman Dominique Easley stopped Denver running back C.J. Anderson on a 4th-and-1 attempt at the Denver 45.

Buoyed by their defense, the Rams held a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter on Zuerlein field goals of 29 and 38 yards. The Broncos then drove easily, against the Rams’ second-team defense, and took a 7-6 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Siemian to Virgil Hill.

The teams traded field goals late in the second quarter, as Zuerlein connected from 48 yards and Brandon McManus connected from 50 to give the Broncos a 10-9 halftime lead.

The Broncos took a 17-9 lead midway through the third quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Hillman.

Fisher said the Rams didn’t suffer any injuries that would keep players out of practice.