Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is day-to-day with a sprained UCL in his right thumb, Coach Sean McVay said on Monday.
Stafford is dealing with swelling and bruising in the thumb that limits his ability to grip a football, McVay said. He had previously suffered a UCL sprain in the same thumb which required surgery, so scar tissue is also a factor in Stafford’s recovery, though the Rams aren’t ruling him out for next weekend’s road game against the Green Bay Packers.
“It’s exclusively a result of how quickly that thumb turns over,” McVay said. “It’s really about let’s see what happens over the next 24-48 hours in regards to all of those things that I previously mentioned.”
Stafford originally hit his thumb twice during the Rams’ final drive of the first half in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, banging his hand into a helmet on the two-point conversion before halftime. But doctors determined the thumb was stable following that incident.
When he was on the receiving end of a two-point conversion on the opening drive of the third quarter, he bent the thumb back against the turf when diving across the goal line.
McVay said the Rams originally feared worse than a UCL sprain, but scans revealed Stafford had avoided a worst-case scenario. The Rams will consider the weather in Green Bay, expected to be in the high 30s and low 40s, and the fact that a Week 10 bye would give Stafford extra time to heal before taking the field again.
“So much of that is about the dialogue and the discussion in regards to how is he feeling, what does he feel like he is able to do,” McVay. “We would love to have him available for us but not at the expense of pushing it and making sure that you’re not leaving him susceptible to anything unnecessary.”
Stafford is seventh in the NFL with 2,070 yards passing this season. His 59.7% completion rate is the lowest among the league’s top 22 quarterbacks in yards, and he has thrown seven interceptions against just eight touchdown passes.
The expectation is if Stafford can’t play against the Packers, Brett Rypien would be the starter. But McVay acknowledged the Rams, who have lost five of their past seven games, are exploring the possibility of signing a free agent to reinforce the position.
McVay said it would be beneficial if a quarterback acquisition had some experience in his offense, but it would not be the only factor considered.
“We definitely have to get some contingency plans in order,” McVay said. “I think we’d be silly to not get our ducks in a row if [Stafford is] not able to go and figure out, alright, with Brett, what does that look like in addition to adding somebody to our quarterback room?”
McVay said the Rams had considered adding a third quarterback to the roster after rookie Stetson Bennett IV was added to the non-football injury list prior to the season opener, but other considerations had gotten in the way.
As for Bennett, who has not been around the team since going on the NFI, there is still no update on his situation but it appears unlikely he will return to the Rams this season.
“I’m not ready to say that he won’t be back with us at all this year, but it’s probably less likely than it is likely that he would be,” McVay said.
Which, for the moment, leaves the Rams with Rypien. Prior to Saturday, the fourth-year veteran had played in eight games in his career, completing 61.5% of his passes for 778 yards, four touchdowns and eight interceptions in three seasons with the Denver Broncos.
Against the Cowboys, Rypien completed 50% of his 10 passing attempts for 42 yards. He said after the game that he felt like he was moving a little too fast in his footwork and progressions as the adrenaline kicked in.
“I think that just naturally happens when you get into a live game scenario with a real pass rush when you haven’t felt it for a while,” Rypien said. “For me, it’s just about how can I slow down my processing just a little bit, slow down my feet so I’m in timing and rhythm with these guys so we can start to get this thing moving.”
Last year as Stafford dealt with a litany of injuries, the Rams cycled through three additional quarterbacks. In Weeks 11-14, the team had four different starting QBs, so it is an unfortunate experience the first-team offense can lean on as it adjusts to Rypien orchestrating things.
“Unfortunately it’s part of this game,” tight end Tyler Higbee said. “I was actually talking to [Rypien] about it a few weeks ago, just how it can be somewhat mentally challenging knowing you’re not necessarily the starter but going in every week and preparing as if you are. And he’s a guy that has done that and I think he will again do that this week.”
NOTES
Rams cornerback Cobie Durant had a stinger in his neck in Dallas. He will be limited in practice early this week, but should play in Green Bay. … Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua is experiencing knee swelling, so he is likely to be limited in practice. … Rookie punter Ethan Evans sprained his ankle on a Dallas punt return, but McVay isn’t sure how serious it is.