Rams: Details emerge on Matthew Stafford’s season-ending IR stint

Matthew Stafford has been out due to injury, but the latest development with the situation will cause Rams fans to officially lose hope in the future. 

Back in February, there were murmurs about whether or not the Los Angeles Rams would be able to run it back.

Would Odell Beckham Jr. re-sign? Could they become the dominant force that tore through the NFC last season?

It seems that in Week 1, their Super Bowl aspirations were quickly dashed by the next projected Super Bowl winner, the Buffalo Bills. The addition of Allen Robinson II famously did little, and Matthew Stafford leaned heavily on Cooper Kupp as the offense struggled.

In Week 12, it seems the final blow to the Rams season has finally been delivered.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared that the Rams had placed Matthew Stafford on Injured Reserve on Saturday, “almost certainly ending his season.”

“It’s not a concussion — he was out of the NFL’s Concussion Protocol,” Rapoport explained. “It was more of because of a nerve issue in his neck, still trying to get that nerve to calm down. He was out Sunday and then Thursday anyway, so they put him on IR now, and we shall see.”

What does Matthew Stafford IR stint mean for the future of the Rams?

Suffering an injury so late in the year spoils any hopes of Stafford’s return this season, and it’s difficult to imagine the 3-8 Rams being able to able to make the postseason with this latest development.

Before the news broke, the New York Times published an interactive playoff simulator that gives the Rams a 2 percent chance of making playoffs. But if they’re going to face the Seattle Seahawks with John Wolford, Stafford’s replacement, it’s unlikely they’ll come out with a much-needed win.

The Rams are also sharing snaps with now-backup quarterback Bryce Perkins in a “dual quarterback system”, according to Rapoport. If it’s the kind of system that the New Orleans Saints are employing with their own quarterback committee, it doesn’t appear as if the Rams will be able to find any relief in the winter months ahead.

Stafford joins Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson II on IR, and with that, the injury bug has swept away the 2022 season for Los Angeles. While it’s a shame to lose any season, it’s especially devastating to see so many players rehabilitate in the coming offseason, especially a 34-year-old Stafford who underwent plenty of injuries with the Detroit Lions. Despite his immense talent, Stafford’s injuries could continue to plague his NFL career, and Sean McVay has already said he’ll retire when his crew does. The longer Stafford stays, the longer McVay does, and a nerve issue in Stafford’s neck could spell trouble down the road.

Also, if there was any hope OBJ may sign with the Rams, it’s certainly been eliminated with this latest development.