Posted on: December 3, 2022, 12:47h.
Final up to date on: December 3, 2022, 12:47h.
The injury-riddled Los Angeles Rams host the Seattle Seahawks in a divisional battle on Sunday, however they won’t have quarterback Matthew Stafford or defensive finish Aaron Donald within the beginning lineup.
Donald suffered an ankle damage in Week 12’s loss towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Stafford not too long ago cleared concussion protocol, however the Rams determined to maintain him out of the lineup out of precaution.
Backup quarterback John Wofford will begin for the Rams towards the Seahawks in Week 13.
It’s been a disappointing season for the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Rams. The Rams occupy final place within the NFC West with a 3-8 file.
The Rams seemed like they pale the proverbial “Tremendous Bowl Hangover” with a 2-1 begin in September. They dropped two video games in a row in early October to sink to 3-3 on the season.
The Rams final secured a victory in Week 6 towards the Carolina Panthers. Since their bye in Week 7, the Rams misplaced 5 video games in a row.
The Rams’ offense seemed terrible during the last two months. They misplaced seven out of their final eight video games averaging 11.8 factors per recreation in these losses.
Seahawks Looking for NFC West Crown
The Seahawks misplaced two video games in a row, which snapped a four-game profitable streak. They fell to second place within the division with a 6-5 file behind the first-place San Francisco 49ers at 7-4.
The 49ers, with a 4-0 divisional file, are the consensus favourite to win the NFC West at -650 odds in response to DraftKings. The Seahawks are 2-1 in NFC West video games. They’re +450 win the division, with two extra video games to play towards the last-place Rams.
The Seahawks play 4 out of their remaining six video games at dwelling in Seattle. They host the Carolina Panthers (Week 14), 49ers (Week 15), New York Jets (Week 17), and Rams (Week 18). Apart from the Rams this week in Los Angeles, the Seahawks hit the highway to play the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 16.
The Rams are +7 dwelling canine at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday. The Rams are the worst betting crew within the NFL this season with a 2-7-2 ATS file. The Seahawks are 6-5 ATS this season.
Will the Rams Shut Down Stafford for The rest Season?
Stafford entered the season with an elbow damage, however performed by means of the ache. He additionally suffered a number of concussions in November in Week 9 towards the Tampa Bay Bucs, and in Week 11 towards the New Orleans Saints.
Wofford began one recreation this season towards the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. The Cardinals defeated the Rams, 27-7, and Wofford misplaced his lone begin this season.
Stafford recovered from his concussion and began in Week 11 in a loss towards the Saints. An unfortunate Stafford received dinged within the second half, and by no means returned resulting from one other concussion. Bryce Perkins completed the sport at quarterback, however the Rams misplaced 27-20.
Head coach Sean McVay tapped Perkins to begin final week towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, however the Rams prolonged their dropping streak to 5 in a row with a 26-10 loss.
McVay shuffled the deck as soon as once more and Wofford will begin towards the Seahawks.
Actually simply a chance to see if Wofford can construct on among the issues that he’s accomplished,” McVay informed the L.A. Occasions. “He’s received slightly bit extra expertise with it.”
Stafford cleared the NFL’s strict concussion protocols on Friday, however the Rams determined to maintain him off the sphere after getting two concussions inside a three-week time-frame.
With the Rams eradicated from postseason rivalry and unable to defend their title, it is smart if the Rams shut down Stafford for the rest of the season.
Donald to Miss First-Profession Sport with an Damage
The Rams chosen Aaron Donald with the #13 pick of Pitt within the 2014 NFL Draft. In 140 video games that the Rams performed because the begin of the 2014 season, a sturdy and gritty Donald appeared in 138 of them.
Donald by no means missed a single recreation resulting from an damage since coming into the NFL in 2014. That’s an unimaginable stat. He missed two video games in 2017, however neither had been attributed to his well being. He didn’t seem within the season opener resulting from a contract dispute, and he sat out final recreation of the season resulting from relaxation.
Final Sunday towards the Chiefs, an ankle damage knocked Donald out of the sport. An MRI revealed a excessive ankle sprain.
“Fortunately, it’s nothing that can require surgical procedure,” mentioned McVay.
Bobby Brown, Marquise Copeland, and Greg Gaines will see an uptick in enjoying time whereas filling in for Donald. However they’ve massive sneakers to fill. Donald and edge rusher Leonard Floyd had been tied with 5 sacks every.
It’s going to take each man up entrance to match that very same degree that A.D. brings,” mentioned Floyd. I imagine our guys are going to reply the problem.”
“A lot of our D is constructed round Donald,” added McVay. “He’s really one in all one. You don’t substitute anyone like him.”
Excessive ankle sprains sometimes take 4 to 6 weeks to heal. Donald is predicted to overlook not less than two video games with the Rams going through a brief week towards the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night time Soccer in Week 14. He’d wish to return towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 15 once they meet on Monday Night time Soccer.
