THOUSAND OAKS — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is in the concussion protocol, could be a game-time decision for Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Sean McVay announced.
McVay said Stafford is “making good progress,” but the team listed Stafford as “questionable” on the final injury report ahead of Sunday’s NFC West matchup at SoFi Stadium. Stafford was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, a step in the right direction for him to leave the concussion protocol.
“He got a good workout in,” McVay said. “He was out throwing and working yesterday (Thursday) and making good progress and steady progression and that’s all you can ask.”
McVay declined Friday to say whether Stafford sustained a concussion. On Wednesday, McVay said the medical team determined it was best for Stafford to enter the concussion protocol because their postgame findings suggested he might have sustained a concussion during last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Stafford wasn’t evaluated for a potential concussion during the game.
Stafford would need to have a full workload in Saturday’s walk-through workout and pass protocol tests to be cleared to play against the Cardinals, who also have uncertainty with their starting quarterback with Kyler Murray dealing with a hamstring injury. This critical Week 10 game, with two teams in need of a win, could feature a starting quarterback matchup between John Wolford of the Rams and Colt McCoy of the Cardinals.
McVay said Stafford’s playing status might not be determined until 90 minutes before kickoff, when the lists of inactive players are due.
“When you got a guy who’s a veteran player like him,” McVay said, “you’re not going to risk at all any of the … we’re not going to skip any of the steps. I don’t want that to be misunderstood. I think it would be silly of me to rule him out when you’re talking about our quarterback, a guy that means so much to us. If there’s a possibility, while not being able to risk him, and that’s kinda where we’re at with that.”
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp said he doesn’t want Stafford to feel pressured into playing. The 14-year veteran quarterback hasn’t missed a game since 2019.
“This isn’t something you muscle through,” Kupp said. “That’s been very clear with concussion that this isn’t something like an ankle (injury), it’s not a knee, it’s not anything that you can just push through. It’s something that you have to handle the right way for your family, for yourself. There’s bigger things, ultimately. I hope that he feels that and knows that.
“It’s so against his nature. He’s played through so many things in his career in Detroit and even for us last year. He was able to push through the injuries. It’s just in his nature to push through things.”
RAMSEY DEFENDS MORRIS
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey strongly expressed support for defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, saying “people don’t understand the coverages that we’re playing.”
Pundits have criticized Morris’ zone-heavy scheme and fans have displayed frustration with the scheme on social media throughout the season, mainly because it allows quarterbacks to make completions underneath the coverages.
Morris’ scheme is designed to prevent downfield plays, and it worked against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 59 minutes before Brady’s game-winning drive in the final minute last week.
“I don’t give a (expletive) what they said about Rah,” Ramsey said Friday. “I’m telling you Rah (is fire). People don’t have no clue. Like Rah is fire for real, for real. Like the fact that he’s not a head coach somewhere, for real, is like a blessing for us, especially in that defensive room. Like Rah is the real (expletive) deal. I ain’t even lying to you, like I’m passionate about that. Like Rah is like that.
“His play calling, the way he allows us to play free, fast with no fear, the confidence he pushes into each of us as players. We have great players in the defense, right? He’s still teaching us things. Man, (he’s) expanding our game to be even better than we have been in the past. Like, man, this man just taught me something this morning, just sitting in his office for like 45 minutes. He’s just teaching me something new that nobody ever (has) taught me before, like ever.”
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INJURY UPDATES
Offensive guard Coleman Shelton and rookie running back Kyren Williams will be activated before Sunday’s game and they’re expected to play, according to McVay.
Shelton will likely start at one of the guard positions, giving the team its ninth offensive line combination in nine games this season.
The Rams gained Shelton, but they might not have left tackle Alaric Jackson, who was listed as “doubtful” on the injury report with a knee injury. Veteran Ty Nsekhe, who joined the Rams last month, would start at left tackle if Jackson can’t play, according to McVay.
Also, defensive lineman Greg Gaines (elbow) was listed as “doubtful” and running back Malcolm Brown (hamstring) and linebacker Travin Howard (hip) were ruled out against the Cardinals.