It appears the Los Angeles Rams are closing quarterback Matthew Stafford for the remainder of the 2022 season, as the team announcement Saturday that they had placed their outgoing signalman on casualty reserve.
Stafford is technically eligible to return in Week 17, but with the Rams currently at 3-8, it would be surprising for him to play again this season given the situation. The Rams’ 3-8 record is tied for the worst record by a defending Super Bowl champion in 11 games. No defending Super Bowl champion has ever started the following season 3-9.
The former Detroit Lions No. 1 pick has missed two of the Rams’ last three games. Stafford was originally on concussion protocol but is now struggling with a neck injury which prompted head coach Sean McVay to exclude it for this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
With Stafford out, John Wolford will start at quarterback. Wolford started Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, but Bryce Perkins started Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs. In Wolford’s only start this season, he completed 24 of 36 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 27-17 loss.
Injuries continue to pile up for Los Angeles, which will also be without star defensive lineman Aaron Donald this week with a sprained ankle. Stafford likely ends the season having thrown for 2,087 yards (231.9 passing yards per game), 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 2022 campaign was very different from the Super Bowl season the Rams enjoyed last year. Stafford finished third in passing yards (4,886), second in passing touchdowns (41), and 10th in completion percentage (67.2%) en route to winning the Lomabardi Trophy. Now, the future 35-year-old will likely regroup for 2023.