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Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams suffered a broken thumb in a Week 16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His status for Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals is in significant doubt, according to team officials.
Rams are uncertain if Jared Goff will be able to play in next week’s regular-season finale after he inured his right thumb during today’s loss to Seattle, per sources. Goff will undergo further testing after Rams return to LA. But there are concerns about his thumb’s condition.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2020
Jared Goff's right thumb is broken, @RapSheet and I have learned
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) December 28, 2020
The Rams' backup quarterback is John Wolford, who might be asked to beat Kyler Murray and the Cardinals in Week 17. The Cardinals had an advantageous playoff position entering Week 16, but they squandered it with a 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past Saturday. The Cardinals won't just be facing a division rival next Sunday in Los Angeles; they will be fighting for the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC with one team outside the NFC West.
FOX slo mo'd Jared Goff popping his dislocated thumb back into place… pic.twitter.com/GIyBBvXr71
— 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕨𝕞𝕖𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕆𝕫 (@5StarWhiteTrash) December 27, 2020
Rams-Cardinals will carry playoff implications for at least one team, if not both. If the Chicago Bears lose to the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, they will need the Rams to beat the Cardinals in order to make the playoffs.
Jared Goff has struggled for much of the season, and he played poorly in the loss to the Seahawks. The Rams' 20-9 defeat gave Seattle the NFC West Division title, meaning that the Rams can get nothing higher than the No. 5 seed in the NFC postseason.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their Week 17 game, the Rams will not be able to get anything more than the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Many will point to Goff's subpar play as a reason for Sean McVay to not panic entering Week 17. Yet, for all of Goff's struggles, it is hard to make the argument that Los Angeles is in a better position with John Wolford than with Goff against an opponent which will be playing for playoff survival on January 3.
The Chicago Bears have to view this development as a reminder that they can't expect the Rams to take care of the Cardinals and sew up a playoff berth for them.
A new update on Goff's condition:
Jared Goff’s thumb was dislocated on the field, the team fears it is broken, and he will have more testing in LA on Monday – and Rams still don’t know if he can play next week vs. Arizona. They expect to know more in 48-72 hours. https://t.co/5aTf5QZkTK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2020
