Quarterback Matthew Stafford was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, a day after clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol for the second time this season.
Stafford had already been ruled out of the Rams’ home game against Seattle on Sunday with a neck injury. The Super Bowl winner will miss at least his four games, potentially ending his season.
Stafford has missed two of the Rams’ last three games (3-8) and is on a five-game losing streak in the title defense season. The Rams have not confirmed Stafford suffered a concussion this season, but he did make two trips through the league’s concussion protocol.
John Walford will start as quarterback for Los Angeles against the Seahawks. All-Pro defensive his tackle Aaron Donald and All-Pro receiver his Cooper Cup are also sidelined with injuries.
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Stafford felt numbness in his leg when he was playing just two days after clearing concussion protocol for the first time during the Rams’ loss to New Orleans two weeks ago.
After Stafford cleared protocol again on Friday, coach Sean McVay said the struggling Rams are unlikely to rush back the 34-year-old star quarterback who is under contract until 2026. Admitted.
“I knew he was out this week because of his neck,” McVay said. “Now that one of those steps has been removed, let’s put our heads together and see what that looks like for how the neck affects his availability. The rest of the season. does”
Stafford passed for 2,087 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and completed a career-high 68% of his passes in nine games this season. This is his second with the Rams after his 12-year stint with the Detroit Lions. Stafford has been one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks over the past 11 seasons, missing just eight of his games through injury during the 2019 season.
Stafford, Kupp and Donald are critically injured for receiver Allen Robinson, defensive tackle Asean Robinson and the Rams, who are off to their worst start since 2011 after falling into their longest skid since 2016. He joins many offensive linemen who have suffered injuries.
The Rams also activated rookie linebacker Daniel Hardy from the injured list. The 7th round pick is yet to make his NFL debut after suffering a sprained ankle during the preseason.
Hardy could immediately play as edge rusher for the Rams, which lacks linebacker Terrell Lewis due to a back injury. , further weakening the pass rush.
Reported by Associated Press.
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