Los Angeles Rams: Should Stafford Be Shut Down For The Season?

The Los Angeles Rams have a decision to make. Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford is now on his second stint in concussion protocol and will miss Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a strained neck. Depending on who you ask, the Rams are hopeful he returns for the season, or they could shut him down and play it safe. The real question is, what are the chances the Rams will make a turnaround without him?

As of writing this, the Rams are on a four-game losing streak. With their record at 3-7, there’s a very slim chance they make their playoff push. The odds are stacked against them, especially facing the 8-2 Chiefs this week. From there, they’d have to win must-win games against the Seahawks twice. Those same Seahawks are currently in the playoff hunt and offer a challenge. Their schedule is in their favor with the Packers, Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos remaining. Each of those teams is struggling to get back above .500 and give the Rams an outside chance of getting back on track.

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But that would be a tall order even with their starting quarterback healthy, but they’re already missing their biggest playmaker in Cooper Kupp who more than likely won’t return this season. So the real question still remains, why do they need to rush Stafford back. This isn’t the same team that won them the Super Bowl last year. They let Odell Beckham Jr exit via free agency after an ACL injury as it didn’t make sense to rush into that decision when he was missing most of the season. Kupp is down. Stafford is being downplayed by the staff for being in protocol, despite coaches saying they can’t prove he suffered a second concussion. Even if he makes a full recovery, this season is toast

Matthew Stafford is only 34 years old and the Los Angeles Rams have a few more good years of football left. Do the right thing, shut him down and shut down the hopes of a winning record. This core of players if they can get back healthy can still make a run the next season so why gamble with a players health. You know what you have with your core guys, why not give the back end of the roster some experience so you can go into the offseason with a better idea of your players to keep and ones to cut and come back strong next year.

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As much as the Los Angeles Rams fans hate to admit it, the season is lost. Healthy Stafford or injured Stafford, there’s no way they’re making a turn around. There’s no sense rushing a player back when you’ve got the smallest sliver of a chance. You just won a Super Bowl so your fans won’t jump ship if you make the right call. Shut it down and get back healthy.