The injury issues for the Los Angeles Rams have been a persistent storyline all season, and now the Super Bowl champs have lost their leader. The Rams placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve on Saturday, effectively ending his season.
Stafford has missed time recently with a concussion. The longtime Lions quarterback cleared the NFL’s brain injury protocol but was still placed on IR due to lingering issues to his neck. The Rams are 3-8 and in last place in the NFC West.
It’s a stunning fall for the defending Super Bowl champions, but one that helps the Detroit Lions. The Lions own the Rams’ first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft as part of the trade that sent Stafford to Los Angeles after the 2020 season. That pick is No. 3 overall at the start of Week 13, and it’s difficult to envision the Rams making a big run in the win column without Stafford, All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp, or perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aaron Donald–all of whom are now sidelined.