Due to a right thumb injury sustained by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams have decided to play Brett Rypien in place of Stafford for Week 9. According to credible sources cited by NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero on Saturday, Stafford’s absence is confirmed.
In the Rams’ Week 8 game against the Cowboys, Rypien replaced Stafford due to Stafford’s sprained right thumb UCL. Stafford was not involved in practice this week; head coach Sean McVay declared on Monday that the player would be evaluated day-to-day. Los Angeles is hopeful that Stafford’s absence will be restricted to this one game because they have a bye week coming up following Sunday’s game.
In eight games with the Rams this season, Stafford has amassed 2,070 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The veteran quarterback has shown his characteristic velocity and accuracy on throws, despite some less-than-spectacular numbers, so the Rams will suffer a great deal without him.
Regarding Rypien, he last started for the Denver Broncos in Week 15 of the previous campaign, helping them defeat the Arizona Cardinals. In nine games since joining the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Rypien has amassed 820 passing yards, four touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Notably, he has a 2-1 record as a starter, which is comparable to that of his opponent on Sunday, Jordan Love, 25, who has a 2-6 record in the same capacity.
The Packers, who have a 2-5 record, will play the Rams in Week 9; the Rams currently have a 3-5 record. On Sunday, the game is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET. Los Angeles will be headed by Rypien in place of Stafford.