LOS ANGELES — In a significant shift for the team, Jimmy Garoppolo is set to make his debut for the Rams, stepping in as the starter for Matthew Stafford during the regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday. Coach Sean McVay confirmed this strategy on Wednesday, indicating that the team’s plan is to give the veteran quarterback a breather ahead of the playoffs. Decisions regarding additional player rest will be made at a later time.
The Rams, boasting a record of 10-6, have already secured the NFC West title, outpacing the Seahawks, who sit at 9-7. Currently positioned as the third seed in the NFC playoff framework, Los Angeles could slip to fourth if they fall to Seattle and if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also at 9-7, triumph over the Atlanta Falcons. With the wild-card standings still in limbo among teams like Minnesota, Washington, and Green Bay, McVay seems unfazed about the potential seed shift as they head into the postseason.
Garoppolo, who joined the Rams last spring to serve as Stafford’s backup, has not seen any game action since his signing. The 33-year-old, who once led the San Francisco 49ers to Super Bowl LIV, was sidelined for the first two games of this season due to a suspension for breaching the league’s performance-enhancing drug guidelines.
Throughout the current season, Stafford has taken every snap for Los Angeles, helping the team secure nine victories in their last eleven games. During his tenure with the Rams, this marks Stafford’s third playoff appearance in four years, although his statistics reflect a decline in productivity. He has thrown for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns, marking the least in any season where he played at least 15 matches. Nonetheless, his eight interceptions are the lowest tally in a nearly full season for him, and his completion percentage of 65.8% remains above his career average.
Stafford recently improved his record to 13-1 as a starter in games played in December when the Rams managed a narrow 13-9 victory against Arizona last Saturday. Nevertheless, the Rams’ offense has struggled lately. They have not surpassed the 21-point threshold in any of their five consecutive wins and have only scored three touchdowns over the past three matches collectively.
Moreover, Stetson Bennett, the Rams’ third-string quarterback, awaits his chance to play. The former Georgia standout, who won two national championships and was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, has yet to take the field for Los Angeles. He spent last season away from the team for undisclosed personal reasons, leaving him also untested in game scenarios thus far.
