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The great John Madden breaking down the dynamic matchup between Dwight Freeney and Rams @ProFootballHOF Left Tackle @OrlandoPace_HOF #AllMadden #RIPJohnMadden pic.twitter.com/UHS57OrH7R

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) December 29, 2021

RAMS

PACKERS

Los Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR
DT Aaron Donald is tied for 2nd in the NFL in tackles for loss (10), is tied for 9th in pressures (38), is tied for 13th in QB hits (12), and is tied for 8th in hurries (26). This is Donald’s 10th consecutive season with double-digit stops in the backfield. #RamsHouse

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Sean McVay says Matthew Stafford will be listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game. Declines to say whether Stafford will play, says swelling and grip has made progress.

I asked directly: Can Stafford currently grip a football? Sean McVay says, making good progress and declines to expand further.

Rob Havenstein (calf) will be questionable but sounds like potentially a game-time decision.

Ernest Jones (knee) will not play Sunday. That’s potentially significant for the Rams, but S Jordan Fuller will wear the green dot and has done so at a high level in previous years.

While RT Rob Havenstein (calf) will be “questionable” and probably listed as DNP on the injury report today, did watch him get a pretty high-intensity workout in with medical staff to the side of practice. Havenstein will be a game-time decision, sounds like.

It sounds like Rams are at least mulling a change at outside CB, but somewhat dependent on health of Cobie Durant (stinger). If Durant moves outside Quentin Lake has played well at Star/big nickel.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Ernest Jones is out with a knee injury.

P Ethan Evans is ranked 8th in the NFL in yards per punt (49.1) and tied for 12th in punts landing inside the 10 (4). #RamsHouse @EthanEv01980980 pic.twitter.com/ucuNfypeaJ

— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) November 2, 2023

The highest-graded QBs this season 🎯 pic.twitter.com/viuqTnoEte

— PFF (@PFF) November 1, 2023

Here’s one of the first posts ever posted on the huddle board and it’s fun to look at it again today.

Agamemnon wrote:

youtube – 2014 NFL Draft: Rams get an A for Donald pick – VIDEO

June 29, 2014 at 11:04 pm

Agamemnon

The Youngest team in the league hosts the 2nd youngest team in the league. Im hoping the Rams make a statement and get a win in a place they havent won since 2006. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/EfTpgT4F6t

— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) November 1, 2023

Billy_T wrote:

Chase Young? Bigger, better athlete than Miller, but injuries have suppressed his career.

Rams can’t rely on superior coaching — which I think they have. They just can’t compete athletically via so many late rounders and UDFAs.

On Young. Is he a rental? He’s a FA in 24. Can they sign him? 9ers have no cap space in 2025. As it stands right now their 2025 combined cap hit for Williams, Armstead, Kittle, Warner, and Samuel is appx. 135 M.

In terms of the Rams competing with a lot of good low draft picks…as we know, the plan in 23 was to instigate then endure this year’s big dead money hit, and then use cap space and picks to add to a more seasoned team in 24.

The way you put it, it sounds like you think their plan is to do 23 forever. But this year was always a set-up year, they decided that early last off-season.

So starting next year they add high draft picks and FA money to their (by then) more seasoned roster of very good low-round draft picks (Fuller, Jones, Nacua, Kupp, the TEs, a nice stable of solid RBs…with Young and Turner developing).

I think they’re competive in 23 as long as Stafford is healthy, and are set up to take a leap forward in 24.

McVay: Matthew Stafford day-to-day with UCL sprain in right thumb, plus updates on Rob Havenstein, Cobie Durant, Austin Trammell, Puka Nacua and Ethan Evans

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/matthew-stafford-injury-update-ucl-sprain-right-thumb-week-9-packers-status

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay on Monday said quarterback Matthew Stafford sustained a UCL sprain in his right thumb against the Cowboys and is day-to-day.

Given the Rams had concerns Stafford’s injury could have been worse, McVay said a sprain was encouraging news.

“I think we’re taking it a day at a time,” McVay said during a video conference with reporters Monday. “We definitely have to get some contingency plans in order. We’ve obviously got (backup quarterback) Brett (Rypien) on the roster, and there’s some other possibilities that we’ll explore and that we’re in the midst of working through once I get off with you guys today.”

McVay said Stafford initially got his right thumb hit on the throw to the corner route to wide receiver Puka Nacua in the redzone on the Rams’ drive toward the end of the first half. After the Rams’ failed 2-point conversion at the end of that drive, TV replays showed Stafford’s thumb hitting the helmet of a Cowboys defensive lineman. McVay said doctors checked Stafford’s thumb after that failed 2-point conversion, and that Stafford’s thumb was stable. McVay said it wasn’t something that restricted Stafford’s ability to play.

However, on the Rams’ successful 2-point conversion, Stafford’s thumb got caught on the turf as he dove to make that catch. McVay said it was that play that caused Stafford to leave Sunday’s game in Dallas and not return.

McVay said there’s no concern about Stafford’s previous thumb injury. However, McVay said there is some swelling, some bruising and some scar tissue, so the sprain “absolutely” affects how Stafford grips the football.

Stafford was replaced by Rypien, who completed 5 of 10 pass attempts for 42 yards. While McVay said it was “hard to say” what stood about about the way Rypien came into Sunday’s game and took over, it’s party because it was a “really tough situation” in regards to running the offense. Still, McVay praised Rypien for his work over the past several weeks leading the scout team offense during practice.

“He’s done a great job,” McVay said. “I think he improved. He approaches every single week with an intentionality to really be able to say, ‘Alright, if these are the reps that I’m getting, how can I get better? How can I play within the timing and rhythm?’ I think he’s done a great job of mimicking and emulating the opposing team’s quarterback, the cadence, all those different things. But I just think the consistency at which he’s approached his craft and the intentionality has allowed him to improve, and he’s done a really nice job with that role.”

McVay confirmed the Rams are exploring signing another quarterback. The Rams have carried two quarterbacks for the majority of the season, which McVay said was due to the unforeseen circumstance of rookie Stetson Bennett’s situation.

Bennett is still on the Reserve/NFI list, and McVay said that there is no update in regards to Bennett being back with the team.

“I’m not ready to say that he won’t be back with us at all this year,” McVay said, “but it’s probably less like than it is likely he would be.”

Just like any injured veteran player, McVay said Stafford’s feedback is “key and critical” in determining whether he plays.

“I think in a lot of instances, so much of that is about the dialogue and the discussion in regards to how is he feeling?” McVay said. “What does he feel like he’s able to do? We would love to be able to have him available for us, but not at the expense of pushing it and making sure that you’re not leaving him susceptible to anything unnecessary. And you want to make sure that you’re setting them up for success.”

Updates on Havenstein, Durant, Trammell, Nacua and Ethan Evans

In terms of other injury updates, McVay said they are continuing to monitor offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (calf) and that Havenstein is day-to-day.

Defensive back Cobie Durant’s shoulder injury in the first half of Sunday’s game turned out to be a stinger in his neck. McVay said Durant will likely be a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, “but he should be okay.”

Wide receiver and punt returner Austin Trammell sustained a hip injury on one of his punt returners, but McVay said Trammell “should be okay.”

Wide receiver Puka Nacua “had some knee swelling,” and the Rams will “be smart” with him on Wednesday.

Additionally, punter Ethan Evans suffered an ankle sprain on one of the Cowboys’ punt returns.

“We’ll see how he’s doing,” McVay said of Evans.