There’s a ton of NFL news dropping as the league prepares for the final week of the regular season. That now includes struggling Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.
Goff suffered a broken and dislocated thumb on his throwing hand during Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. At that point, the expectation was that Goff would miss what is likely to be a must-win Week 17 outing against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. We now have more information on this, and it’s not great.
NFL news: Rams QB Jared Goff to have surgery, unlikely to play in Week 17
“Rams’ QB Jared Goff underwent surgery today on his broken right thumb in LA and is unlikely to play Sunday vs. Arizona, sources tell ESPN. If he can’t play Sunday, Goff could return for the playoffs if Rams advance there,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Goff seemed to be hellbent on playing next week before doctors concluded that surgery was necessary. In his stead, former undrafted free agent John Wolford will likely get the start against Arizona.
The 25-year-old former Wake Forest starter was originally picked up as a free agent by the New York Jets following the 2018 NFL Draft. He played for the since-defunct Alliance of American Football back in 2019 and has yet to attempt a regular-season pass in the NFL.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Rams, check out #RamsHouse rumors, rankings, and news here.
NFL news: What the Jared Goff injury means for these Rams
It’s not like Goff has set the NFL world on fire this season. The former No. 1 pick has thrown three touchdowns against three interceptions in his past three starts. He’s also led the Rams to less than 18 points per game during that span.
There’s obviously some questions about Goff’s future as the Rams’ starting quarterback after the team handed him a huge four-year, $134 million extension a year ago this past September. In reality, Goff has regressed since a poor performance in a Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots following the 2018 season.
Related: Should the Rams trade Jared Goff?
In no way does this mean Wolford is a better option under center. Los Angeles will now be relying on the league’s third-ranked scoring defense to take out the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 and capture a playoff spot. If that does indeed happen, Jared Goff is expected back for the wild card round.
However, this is not a foregone conclusion. If Los Angeles were to fall to the Cardinals with the Chicago Bears defeating the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, the team would shockingly miss out on the playoffs. Should this happen, NFL news in Southern California this coming offseason will likely include the team looking for quarterback competition.
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