Matthew Stafford entered concussion protocol Wednesday potentially leaving the team without their star QB for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Head Coach Sean McVay.
Rams’ QB Matthew Stafford is in concussion protocol, per HC Sean McVay.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2022
The Los Angeles Rams are going to have a hard time winning against Arizona without Stafford’s presence, assuming the QB is ruled out for the game. If the Rams lose and start the season off 3-6, you can pretty much bench their championship hopes.
We’re at the point now in the season where Los Angeles is getting too far behind in the playoff standings to catch up. The Rams are already three games back from four seed in the NFC Playoff standings, according to ESPN.
The absence of Odell Beckham Jr. this season has been hard on Stafford. Beckham Jr., who tore his ACL in the Super Bowl last season, has not played a single game this season. OBJ appeared to be Stafford’s favorite target (not named Cooper Kupp) on the back-half of the Rams’ championship campaign. He hauled in over 100 receiving yards in the NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers and even caught a touchdown pass from Stafford in the first-half of Super Bowl LVI before his injury in that number two role. (RELATED: NBA Team Mired In Scandals, Dysfunction Hire New Coach After Firing Former NBA Superstar)
Allen Robinson, who formerly played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, has failed so far this season in his role as the Rams’ number two target. Up until now, Robinson has only had 25 receptions and two touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. He has been much less effective in the number two receiver role than Beckham and Robert Woods were for Stafford and it has been detrimental to the Rams’ offensive success.
The injury comes at a poor time for Los Angeles. Stafford potentially being out for them makes their chances at a repeat championship very unlikely.