Sources: Stafford uncertain to return this season

The Los Angeles Rams are uncertain erstwhile oregon if backmost Matthew Stafford volition instrumentality this season, league sources told ESPN.

Stafford is retired Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs due to the fact that of a strained cervix and 2 caller trips to the concussion protocol. He suffered 1 concussion earlier this month, and the Rams ne'er could beryllium helium suffered a 2nd concussion adjacent though helium was successful the protocol a 2nd time.

Stafford, 34, has absorbed plentifulness of carnal punishment this season. On Wednesday, the Rams ruled him retired for their crippled against the Chiefs.

Rams manager Sean McVay said Stafford felt immoderate numbness successful his legs aft taking a deed past Sunday against the Saints but besides emphasized that adjacent though Stafford is successful the concussion protocol, it doesn't mean helium has been diagnosed with a concussion.

Stafford's presumption going guardant is akin to that of injured Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was expected to miss six to 8 weeks aft having ankle surgery. Sources told ESPN the Rams, who person mislaid 4 consecutive games and six of their past seven, consciousness determination is nary request to unreserved backmost an injured subordinate unless the play stops slipping away.

If the Rams (3-7) tin drawstring unneurotic immoderate wins, starting Sunday erstwhile backmost Bryce Perkins is expected to commencement astatine Kansas City, past they tin person Stafford rested and acceptable for a agelong run.

Perkins is simply a 2020 undrafted escaped cause from Virginia who has shined during the preseason but not gotten extended playing clip during the regular season. Perkins' archetypal NFL commencement could not travel successful a much hard venue -- successful Kansas City against a Super-Bowl contending team.

Sunday's crippled could beryllium the archetypal of aggregate starts this play for Perkins, depending connected however helium plays, however the squad fares and however Stafford recovers. McVay said Wednesday that helium would not regularisation retired shutting down Stafford for the remainder of the season, saying the Rams "are not going to bash thing that's reckless."

Stafford has passed for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions this season, his 2nd with the Rams.

John Wolford started nether halfway for Los Angeles against the Arizona Cardinals successful Week 10 -- the archetypal crippled Stafford missed portion successful the concussion protocol -- but Perkins replaced the injured Stafford past Sunday against New Orleans, completing 5-of-10 passes for 64 yards portion besides rushing for 39 yards.