The Rams have clinched a playoff berth, doing so after a lower-key offseason pointed to extra of a retooling 12 months. However they don’t seem to be locked right into a seed simply but. However, the group will relaxation its beginning quarterback in Week 18.
Matthew Stafford will sit down for the Rams’ regular-season finale, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, with Carson Wentz taking the reins for the primary time. The Rams added Wentz halfway by way of the season, doing so after Brett Rypien struggled in aid of Stafford in Inexperienced Bay.
Los Angeles’ loss in Inexperienced Bay is all of a sudden related. If the Packers beat the Bears and the Rams lose to what is going to possible be a solid of 49ers second-stringers, Inexperienced Bay turns into the NFC’s No. 6 seed and Los Angeles drops to the No. 7 spot. The Cowboys and Lions, respectively, are the possible Nos. 2 and three seeds within the NFC. This might conceivably derail a Stafford return to Detroit in Spherical 1, although the 49ers won’t be at full energy after having clinched home-field benefit within the NFC bracket.
Wentz signed a one-year deal worth $733K with the Rams on Nov. 7 and instantly grew to become Stafford’s backup. The Rams have seen their starter return to kind this season, working as one of many NFC’s finest quarterbacks after a number of accidents nagged him in 2022. Wentz, 31, has now had practically two months to study Sean McVay‘s playbook. This represents an audition alternative for the scrutinized passer, who was not intently linked to a group earlier than the Rams settlement got here to go.
The Eagles, Colts and Commanders have moved on from Wentz over the previous three offseasons. After he produced a stable TD-INT ratio in Indianapolis (27 TDs, seven picks), Wentz completed poorly and noticed Jim Irsay successfully order him to be dealt. The Commanders traded two third-round picks for the previous No. 2 general selection, however after a season through which Wentz didn’t get his job again for a number of weeks after getting back from a hand damage, Washington launched him to create appreciable cap area. Final season, Wentz threw 11 landing passes and 9 INTs — three of the picks coming in a Week 17 begin in opposition to the Browns. The Commanders benched him for Sam Howell in Week 18 of final season.
Baker Mayfield‘s indicators of life in McVay’s offense helped land him a beginning job this season, however Wentz clearly can have a smaller window to showcase his kind. However Wentz can have an opportunity to play earlier than possible returning to free company in March.