Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff expressed uncertainty over whether he will be able to play in the team’s regular-season finale after he suffered a thumb injury on Sunday in a 20-9 loss at the Seattle Seahawks.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Rams fear Goff’s thumb is broken and that he will undergo further testing in L.A. on Monday.
“I am uncertain,” Goff said when asked if he’ll be able to play next Sunday at home versus the Arizona Cardinals. “We will see.”
As Rams coach Sean McVay added, “I’m not sure right now. I don’t want to speculate on that.”
With Sunday’s lopsided defeat, the Rams (9-6) have lost two straight games for the first time this season; but they can still clinch a playoff spot with either a win against the Cardinals (8-7) or a Green Bay Packers victory at the Chicago Bears (8-7) in Week 17.
John Wolford, an undrafted free agent in 2018 from Wake Forest, is the Rams’ backup quarterback. Wolford has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.
Goff injured his thumb in the final seconds of the third quarter in Seattle as he completed a 9-yard pass to tight end Gerald Everett. As he followed through on his throw, Goff’s right hand hit the helmet of Seahawks defensive end Benson Mayowa.
“Popped it back into place,” Goff said, “and just finished the game.”
During his postgame videoconference with reporters, Goff downplayed the impact of the injury and said his thumb felt “not terrible.”
He also said his thumb didn’t bother him on throws, as Goff completed 6 of 14 passes for 74 yards after suffering the injury.
“He was tough and gutsy and just continued to try to battle for his teammates,” said McVay, who also expressed frustration about his own playcalling in the loss.
Goff completed 24 of 43 passes for 234 yards with an interception.
In the second quarter, Goff threw a pass that was intended for wide receiver Robert Woods. However, Woods was nowhere in the vicinity, and Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs picked it off. The Seahawks converted the takeaway into a 49-yard field goal to tie the game 6-6.
“I made one of what I think is one of the worst plays in my career early on in the first half when I threw that interception to Diggs,” Goff said. “I was trying to get cute with something and it just did not go my way, and they made a great play.”
It was Goff’s 23rd game with a turnover since the start of the 2019 season, the most in the NFL.
The Rams failed to score an offensive touchdown for only the fifth time, including Super Bowl LIII, since McVay took over as coach in 2017.
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