Los Angeles Rams 'Feel Really Good' About Matthew Stafford Injury Return vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Los Angeles Rams have lost three straight games and are now in a precarious position at the bye week, sitting at 3-6 following Sunday's 20-3 road loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Like last season, Los Angeles is battling injury issues, with several key players unable to play against Green Bay - including quarterback Matthew Stafford, who suffered a sprained UCL in his thumb the week before.
In Stafford's place, the Rams turned to Brett Rypien at quarterback, and didn't necessarily see the results they'd hoped for. Rypien completed 13 of 28 passes for 130 yards and an interception while adding three runs for 19 yards.
When Los Angeles returns from its week off, will Rypien get the nod if Stafford's still not healthy? Rams coach Sean McVay doesn't anticipate that being a dilemma he'll have to worry about.
“The good thing is that the inclination and the direction that we're headed, I don't think that's going to be a part of the conversation," McVay said. "Feel really good about Matthew and how much he's attacked doing everything in his power to be back and to lead the way for this team."
McVay added getting Stafford back would be a "tremendous boost" to the Rams' offense, which has scored only 14 points in six quarters without the veteran signal caller under center.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to return to the field following the team's bye week.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck, USA TODAY
Los Angeles also anticipates getting back right tackle Rob Havenstein, running back Kyren Williams, linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III.
And so, the Rams are left eyeing a second half push - with plenty of evaluation still to come across the board, though starting quarterback isn't an area McVay believes he needs to spend much time pondering.
"We're going to look at a lot of different things over this break here," McVay said. "I'm optimistic that I don't even think that's something that we have to worry about, but we will figure out whether it be, not exclusive to the quarterback position but at some other spots, where are possibilities to be able to add competition.”
McVay noted quarterback is an area Los Angeles could consider adding, either in place of Rypien or simply to provide competition. A final decision hasn't been made in that regard.
And so, all that's left for the Rams to do is wait - all the while hoping their losing skid concludes after the bye week with a number of impact players returning to the field.
