Rams News: Matthew Stafford (Concussion) Expected To Play Against Saints

Having lost five of the last six games and now sitting at 3-6, the Los Angeles Rams’ season is on the brink of completely falling apart. The road to turning things around got even tougher last week when quarterback Matthew Stafford entered the concussion protocol.

Stafford was unable to clear the protocol before last week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams lost that contest 27-17 despite the Cardinals also being without their starting quarterback Kyler Murray due to a hamstring injury.

But the Rams won’t have to go through another game without their starting signal caller as head coach Sean McVay announced that Stafford is expected to play this Sunday when the Rams travel to New Orleans to play the Saints, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop:

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is still in the concussion protocol but is expected to play on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. McVay said Stafford was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, which is a step in the process to be cleared from the protocol.

McVay said he expects Stafford to be cleared on Friday, but that “it’s not going to inhibit his ability to participate in practice, be a full participant in meetings, all that kind of stuff.”

“It’s just kind of following the necessary steps to fully be cleared,” McVay said.

Stafford is completing a career-high 68.4 percent of his passes this season but has just eight touchdowns on the year along with eight interceptions, tied for the fourth-most in the league. Stafford has also been sacked 28 times this season, again, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.

But things won’t be easy for Stafford as he makes his return without his top receiver Cooper Kupp who was placed on injured reserve after undergoing ankle surgery. Stafford and the Rams will all need to step up to make up for that massive loss.

But things won’t be easy for Stafford as New Orleans is a notoriously tough place to play and the Saints, much like the Rams, are in dire need of a win to keep their thin playoff hopes alive.