Former Ram star now breaks silence amid his potential return to the club

The Los Angeles Rams have officially confirmed that their quarterback, Matthew Stafford, has suffered a sprained UCL in the thumb of his throwing hand. They have designated his injury as day-to-day. Although there is a chance Stafford might recover in time for their upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers, his absence, even during practice, highlights a significant lack of quarterback depth on the Rams’ roster.

In Stafford’s absence, Brett Rypien, who is in his fourth NFL season, will assume the role of the starting quarterback. Unfortunately, Rypien represents the extent of the Rams’ quarterback depth at the moment. The rookie Stetson Bennett is on the Non-Football Injury List and is unlikely to return this season, leaving the Rams with a very limited number of available signal callers. Currently, the options for a replacement are quite limited due to the fact that many NFL teams have chosen to retain a third quarterback on their roster, further reducing the pool of potential candidates.

It’s worth noting that former Rams player John Wolford, who was expected to be acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad, decided against returning to the West Coast and preferred to remain in Florida. Therefore, he will not be in consideration as a replacement for Stafford.

So who’s left?

On the surface, any potential addition to the Rams’ quarterback roster would likely serve as a short-term, emergency solution. This situation appears to be a temporary fix, possibly lasting just one or two weeks, unless Matthew Stafford is dealing with undisclosed, more serious injuries beyond his thumb. In the best-case scenario, the new player would primarily function as a backup and might later be released and re-signed to the Rams’ practice squad, if at all.

Considering the specific role and the expected duration of the need, it becomes evident that the ideal candidate should have prior NFL experience. This isn’t about scouting rookies for developmental purposes or planning for the future; instead, it’s about finding someone who can step in and play as an emergency NFL backup.

Given these criteria, it’s unlikely that a rookie from a practice squad would be a suitable choice. Trevor Siemian, who has the most NFL experience with 30 starts while with the New York Jets, is a strong contender. Other possibilities include A.J. McCarron from the Cincinnati Bengals, who has played 17 games and started four, and David Blough from the Detroit Lions, who has nine games under his belt with seven starts. Both of these options have ties to the Rams through their coaches or management.

If the Rams were to consider a high-profile signing similar to last year’s acquisition of Baker Mayfield, they could look at quarterbacks like Carson Wentz. With Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings sidelined for the rest of the year, Wentz might be in a position to engage in a bidding war. However, this is a battle the Rams may not be able to win or should even attempt. Other potential options include seasoned backups like Colt McCoy, Nick Foles, and Chase Daniel.

If this deal indeed turns out to be a short-term arrangement, Dresser Winn, who served as the camp arm during training camp, could be brought in as emergency insurance. Alternatively, the Rams might consider giving Bryce Perkins another opportunity. Both of these options are familiar with the team’s system, cost-effective to sign, and easily dispensable when no longer needed. Regardless of the direction the Rams choose, it’s likely that the selected player will have some connection to past Rams coaches or the current coaching staff.