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According to a report by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Los Angeles Rams back quarterback John Wolford will start the team's NFC Wild Card Game against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday afternoon.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told me John Wolford will be the starting quarterback today versus the Seahawks with Jared Goff backing him up just two weeks after Goff had thumb surgery @NFLonFOX #scoopage
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 9, 2021
The announcement that Wolford would receive the nod over Jared Goff comes fewer than 30 minutes before the kickoff between the two NFC West squads. Injuring his thumb two weeks ago, during the last game between the Rams and Seahawks, Goff underwent surgery and had been listed as “questionable” in the lead-up to the postseason match. While operating with a backup quarterback is less than ideal for any team in a playoff game, the Rams should at least benefit from Wolford's increased mobility against the Seattle pass rush.
An undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest, Wolford had initially entered the league as a member of the New York Jets' preseason roster before playing in the Alliance of American Football league. Eventually signing with Los Angeles as a member of their practice squad in 2019, Wolford was promoted to the active roster in 2020 to serve as Goff's backup. While he did not see much action during the year, Goff's injury in Week 16 against the Seahawks forced Wolford into action last week against the Arizona Cardinals.
A must-win game for the Rams as they looked to secure a postseason spot, Wolford impressed many observers with his performance in pacing Los Angeles to an 18-7 victory. While he started the match with a pick-six, the play-caller eventually settled in and routinely escaped the pocket under pressure, a skill Goff has notoriously been unable to do.
On the biggest stage of the NFL season, the Rams will be hoping for a repeat performance.
