Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could face an extended absence due to a thumb injury he sustained in Week 8, potentially sidelining him for a significant period.
After a disappointing performance in Week 8, the Los Angeles Rams face the prospect of a significant downturn in their fortunes due to a severe injury to their star quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
Following a challenging year in 2022 as they attempted to defend their title, the Rams made the bold choice to trade some of their high-priced stars and address their financial obligations in 2023 rather than making substantial efforts to bolster their roster. However, they have defied expectations this season, emerging as a noteworthy surprise.
With limited expectations, their 3-3 start, fueled by the impressive contributions of Matthew Stafford and rookie receiver Puka Nacua, pleasantly surprised many in the NFL. Nonetheless, they have experienced two consecutive losses since then, and Sunday’s defeat against the Dallas Cowboys, which ended in a 43-20 defeat, marked a low point.
However, the humiliating loss to the NFC East team might not be the worst of their worries. In the third quarter of the game, Stafford suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand and was unable to continue. Following the game, head coach Sean McVay was vague regarding Stafford’s hand injury. Nevertheless, an insider from the team has provided concerning updates on the situation.
Matthew Stafford’s 2023 statistics include 2,070 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, and an 82.0 quarterback rating.
On Monday, Jourdan Rodrigue, the Rams reporter for The Athletic, mentioned the possibility of placing the 35-year-old quarterback on the injured reserve list.
According to Rodrigue, “The Rams are considering various scenarios for QB Matthew Stafford and his thumb injury. He will undergo further testing and assessments on his ability to grip the ball throughout the week. The prospect of cooler conditions in Green Bay, coupled with a bye week afterward, is being taken into account for the short term. However, the Rams are not ruling out the possibility of placing him on injured reserve at this stage, as they are still collecting information to determine a more extensive timeline for Stafford.”
It’s worth noting that Stafford was limited to just nine games in 2022 due to a persistent elbow injury and a concussion late in the season. In addition to his new thumb injury, he has also been contending with a hip issue for several weeks.
READ MORE : Matthew Stafford could miss Seahawks game with thumb injury
Report: Matthew Stafford could miss Seahawks game with thumb injury
Brett Rypien is currently Stafford’s backup.
The Los Angeles Rams got pasted 43-20 by the Dallas Cowboys, and moving forward they may need to turn to other options at quarterback.
Matthew Stafford suffered a thumb injury when he hit his hand against the helmet of rookie defensive lineman Mazi Smith in the 2nd quarter. Stafford played only one series in the 3rd quarter before he was replaced by Brett Rypien.
For some reason, the Rams dialed up a trick play two-point conversion sort of reminiscent of the “Philly Special” from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. The underthrown pass from Tutu Atwell was caught by Stafford, who reached across the goal line but clearly aggravated that throwing thumb and that was the end of his day.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, “The Rams have not ruled out placement on injured reserve for the quarterback as they gather information to discern a larger overall timeline.”
If Stafford is placed on injured reserve—the Rams have a bye week after this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, so keep that in mind depending on the severity of his injury—he would miss the Nov. 19 home game against the Seattle Seahawks. For now, Brett Rypien is the only QB on the Rams roster other than Stafford, as rookie Stetson Bennett is on the non-football injury/illness list.
Last season the Seahawks swept the Rams in part due to the Rams starting John Wolford and Baker Mayfield. Those, of course, were narrow victories with Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp also not playing. Stafford diced up Seattle’s secondary on opening day this season, albeit one without Devon Witherspoon or Jamal Adams.
We’ll keep an eye on this for obvious reasons, but the Seahawks could be in line to face another backup quarterback this season.
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