LA Rams: Matthew Stafford, zip, injuries, birds and QBees

A risk too far

In 2020,  the LA Rams eventually decided to roll the dice by sticking with starting quarterback Jared Goff, backed up by mobile quarterback John Wolford. Undrafted rookie quarterback Bryce Perkins was on the practice squad, available to be promoted for up to two different NFL games before the Rams would be forced to promote Perkins.  So it was that combination of John Wolford and Bryce Perkins that became Goff’s safety net in case of injury.

Of course, the Rams were playing the odds, as Jared Goff had not missed a game under head coach Sean McVay.  But in 2020, that backup quarterback situation wasn’t enough. When push came to shove, and Jared Goff was injured late in the season, the LA Rams immediately turned to a familiar face by signing up former backup quarterback Blake Bortles. Will the Rams find any more resolve in they face another injury scenario at quarterback this year?

I’m not sure that the current depth chart at the quarterback position instills the slightest bit of a warm and comfy feeling to fans right now. Yes, John Wolford won a game. But let’s revisit the win. Wolford threw 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception,  rushed for 56 yards, and put the Rams in play to score three field goals. The only Rams touchdown came via a pick-six. In fact, the Cardinals were ahead by a score of 7-5 and had the ball on the Rams 32 yard line with 20 seconds remaining in the half. Thankfully Troy Hill intercepted a pass and put the LA Rams up for good. Had the Cardinals scored a TD there, the game might have ended much differently.

Yes, the LA Rams got a win out of the one start from backup John Wolford. But one game only. When he went out the following week, he was helped off the field due to concussion protocol. That was during the win-or-go-home phase of the season, the NFL Playoffs. Injured starter Jared Goff resumed his role under the center, busted thumb and all, to lead the Rams to a win over the Seattle Seahawks. All’s well that end’s well? Not likely if the plan is to win a Super Bowl.