The Los Angeles Rams — after two consecutive bad losses — face essentially a must-win game in Week 17 against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Rams and Cardinals’ offenses will look much different as L.A. will be without several key players.
The Rams will be without their top quarterback, running back and wide receiver with Jared Goff, Darrell Henderson and Cooper Kupp all already been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Rookie running back Cam Akers’ status is still up in the air, but a sprained ankle may hold him out as well, leaving Malcolm Brown as the only healthy running back. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ offense will likely be at full strength despite rumors that Murray would be unable to go.
Murray suffered a lower leg injury in the Cardinals’ Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, but said he will play through it regardless with his team needing a win to get to the playoffs, via Omar Ruiz of NFL Network:
Kyler Murray says he’s playing Sunday, “There’s no holding back… my leg… I’ll be fine.”
— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) December 30, 2020
Since the Cardinals will have all their weapons available to go along with Murray, it puts even greater pressure on the Rams defense to play their best game of the season.
A Rams win on Sunday would secure them the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff race and likely set them up for a Wild Card weekend battle with the Seattle Seahawks. However, a loss could potentially knock them out of the playoffs altogether, depending on the results of the Chicago Bears meeting with the Green Bay Packers.
Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and the entire Rams defense will undoubtedly need one of their best performances to carry the battered offense past the finish line. Murray will not be at 100%, but he still has the ability to be effective with his arm and his legs.
John Wolford to start at QB for the Rams
Former Wake Forest and AAF quarterback John Wolford will start in place of the injured Goff in Week 17. While this is not an ideal time to see a quarterback take his first regular-season NFL snaps, Wolford has shown plenty of talent at different levels.
Perhaps he’ll be able to do just enough to help secure L.A. the victory and the playoff spot while sending the Cardinals home as well.
