Reports from both Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN indicate that veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is unlikely to play Sunday because of a right thumb injury, forcing the Los Angeles Rams to start backup Brett Rypien against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Rapoport said the “plan” is for Rypien to start; Schefter said Stafford is “unlikely” to play. Both echoed what Sean McVay said Friday: The Rams will give Stafford up until gametime to give himself a chance to play.
Inactives are due by 10:30 a.m. on Sunday morning.
An absence Sunday would mark the second consecutive season in which Stafford has missed a start at Lambeau Field. The Packers beat the Baker Mayfield-led Rams in Green Bay last December.
Stafford didn’t practice all week. The Rams have a bye next week.
Rypien completed 5 of 10 passes for 42 yards and took a sack last week after Stafford left the game in Dallas. He has appeared in nine career games with three starts. In regular season games, the 27-year-old out of Boise State has completed 85 of 140 passes for 820 yards, four touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He averaged 5.9 yards per attempt, created a 42.0 percent success rate and produced a passer rating of 62.8.
Rypien was the starting quarterback when the Denver Broncos beat the New York Jets in Week 4 of 2020. The Broncos lost 16-9 to the Jets during a Rypien start in Week 7 of 2022 and beat the Arizona Cardinals 24-15 during Week 15 of 2022.
The Rams signed Rypien in May. He began the season on the practice squad but was signed to the 53-man roster in September. Rypien completed 14 of 23 passes over three preseason appearances in August.