Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said on his wife Kelly Stafford's podcast The Morning After that he is not retiring from the NFL.

The Rams placed Stafford on injured reserve Dec. 3 because of a neck injury, and his status going forward was uncertain.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Nov. 27 that the Rams didn't know if Stafford would play again in 2022, noting he'd been in concussion protocol twice, had a strained neck and also experienced numbness in his legs.

The injuries have contributed to a lost year for Stafford, who has just 10 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in nine starts. His 87.4 passer rating is his lowest since 2014, while his 231.9 passing yards per game only beats his first two years in the NFL.

The numbers are a dramatic change from 2021 when he totaled 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, leading the Rams to a Super Bowl title in his first season in L.A.

Stafford underwent a procedure on his right elbow in the offseason and was limited in training camp as he recovered. Though he was back on the field in Week 1, he seemingly never returned to 100 percent.

The Rams have struggled with and without their starting quarterback, and they fell to 4-10 and were eliminated from playoff contention with Monday's loss to the Green Bay Packers. That makes it unnecessary for Stafford to return this season, but he wants to get back on the field in 2023.

The 34-year-old signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March, featuring $130 million in guaranteed money. If Los Angeles wanted to trade or release Stafford, it would cost the team at least $48 million in dead cap, per Spotrac.

Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, John Wolford and Bryce Perkins give the team options to finish out the year, although all three are set to enter free agency this offseason.

It was fun while it lasted, but the magic of Baker Mayfield ran out after just over a week for the Los Angeles Rams.

Mayfield and the rest of the offense put forth a lackluster effort in a 24-12 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Monday Night Football. The 27-year-old finished with 111 yards and a touchdown against one interception. He was sacked five times.

Just last week in another primetime matchup on Thursday Night Football, Mayfield powered Los Angeles to a comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders two days after being claimed off waivers.

That feel-good moment feels like months ago, as Monday's performance was a reminder as to why he was waived by the Carolina Panthers.

NFL Twitter didn't hold back its wrath:

The Rams will not have a chance to defend their Super Bowl title in the playoffs after falling to 4-10. Los Angeles has had multiple key players suffer injuries, including Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald.

While Mayfield is behind center, Los Angeles has to accept that there will be more performances like he had Monday. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick has not proved he can produce consistently.

The Rams will look to bounce back at home against the Denver Broncos (4-10) on Christmas Day.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford potentially suffered a concussion during Sunday's 27-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints, though head coach Sean McVay couldn't confirm whether he was in the concussion protocol after the contest.

The Rams announced during the game that Stafford was being evaluated for a concussion. He left the game in the third quarter and didn't return.

Stafford was listed as questionable for a Nov. 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after entering concussion protocol and was eventually ruled out.

The 34-year-old has been pretty durable over his 14-year career and that was the first game he had missed since being dealt to the Rams from the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2021 season.

Stafford is in the middle of a tough campaign for the 3-7 Rams, completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,087 yards and 10 touchdowns against eight interceptions in nine games. A poor offensive line hasn't helped his cause.

Backup John Wolford filled in for Stafford against the Cardinals. The 27-year-old completed 24 of 36 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On Sunday, Bryce Perkins was called into relief duty, leading the team to a pair of field goals in the second half.

While the Rams don't look ready to contend for a Super Bowl, they'll need Stafford healthy in order to finish the regular season on a high note and potentially sneak into the playoffs. But the situation doesn't look good, with superstar Cooper Kupp already sidelined for potentially the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears set to return from a one-game absence on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Stafford was a full participant in Wednesday's practice and is expected to be cleared from concussion protocol on Friday, putting him in line to play in Week 11.

Stafford was placed in concussion protocol last Tuesday following the Rams' Week 9 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McVay said last week that he didn't have any indication that Stafford was experiencing concussion symptoms during the game.

Stafford's return comes at a crucial time for the defending Super Bowl champions. While he was out Sunday, Los Angeles was defeated by the Arizona Cardinals 27-17 for its third straight loss, which dropped the team to 3-6 and last place in the NFC West. John Wolford started in his place, finishing 24-of-36 for 212 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

When Stafford takes the field against the Saints, he will be missing his favorite target. The Rams placed star wide receiver Cooper Kupp on injured reserve after he was forced to undergo surgery for a high ankle sprain he suffered against the Cardinals. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year was in the midst of another spectacular season with 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns.

While Kupp is out, Los Angeles could have trouble moving the ball because of how much the offense revolves around him. Tight end Tyler Higbee ranks second on the team with just 385 receiving yards. Veteran receiver Allen Robinson II, the team's prized free-agent signing this past offseason, has failed to make an impact with just two touchdowns this year.

It will be up to Stafford to make it work with this crop of receivers for the Rams to turn their season around and make a push for a spot in the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears unlikely to play on Sunday as he continues to recover from a concussion.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, John Wolford is set to start against the Arizona Cardinals barring a "drastic change" with Stafford.

Fowler also noted Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will test his hamstring injury in pregame warm-ups but also may not play.

Stafford, 34, has had a tough 2022 campaign after leading the Rams to a Super Bowl title last season, throwing for just 1,928 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 68.4 percent of his passes. The Rams are 3-5 and in a fight to return to the postseason.

The veteran quarterback has largely stayed healthy this campaign, though he was put in the concussion protocol after the team's Week 9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is officially listed as questionable.

Head coach Sean McVay told reporters he didn't have an indication Stafford might have suffered a concussion during that game, but the medical staff spoke to the quarterback after the contest and "then what they ascertained as a result of those questions made them feel like, 'Hey, the appropriate thing for the person and the player in this instance is to put him in the protocol.'"

"Whether or not that means he has a concussion or not isn't for me to truly understand," McVay added. "But there's the necessary steps that we need to take."

Wolford has served as a backup quarterback in Los Angeles since the 2020 season.

"John's a guy that when he's been in these situations, he's stepped in and done a really good job," McVay told reporters after Stafford had been placed in the concussion protocol. "And it wasn't too long ago that he had to come in in a game that we had to have to be able to get into the playoffs and he performed incredibly well."

That game came in January 2021, when Wolford took over for the injured Jared Goff in Week 17 and led the Rams to an 18-7 win over the Cardinals, throwing for 231 yards and an interception.

The Rams are hosting the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is in the NFL's concussion protocol, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday.

It's unclear how and when Stafford was injured. McVay said Stafford did not enter protocols until Wednesday. He played the entire game in Sunday's 16-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elbow issues have plagued Stafford throughout his time in Los Angeles, but he's been able to consistently stay on the field. He played in all 21 games (regular season and playoffs) last season and has been in the lineup each of the team's first eight games in 2022.

Stafford has not been as effective as he was a year ago. Struggling to find the rhythm that made him an MVP candidate in 2021, Stafford has thrown for 1,928 yards and eight touchdowns against eight picks as the Rams have gotten off to a 3-5 start.

John Wolford would start if Stafford is not cleared ahead of Sunday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals.