Matthew Stafford didn’t receive clearance to play against the Green Bay Packers in Week 9, despite his efforts to suit up with a bandaged thumb. Instead, the Rams went with Brett Rypien, and the result was a disappointing 20-3 loss. Coach Sean McVay explained his last-minute decision, expressing concerns about Stafford’s injured thumb and its healing progress.
Stafford’s UCL sprain on his throwing hand was the primary reason for not starting him, according to McVay. However, McVay did acknowledge the possibility of Stafford taking the field due to his toughness. Details regarding the severity of Stafford’s thumb injury and his return timeline remained scarce.
The Rams find themselves in a challenging position with a 3-6 overall record, sitting 12th in the NFC playoff race. Their bye week offers an opportunity to regroup and, hopefully, welcome back Stafford, who may be ready to play against the Seattle Seahawks on November 19. McVay is optimistic about Stafford’s return but can’t provide a definitive timetable.
Brett Rypien’s performance against the Packers was lackluster, with only three completions by halftime and an overall struggle for the Rams’ offense, which contrasted with their usual high-scoring style. Los Angeles gained just 10 first downs, averaged 3.4 yards per play, and accumulated only 187 total yards.
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