Is it too early to start referring to Baker Mayfield as a journeyman quarterback? At this rate, Mayfield might give Ryan Fitzpatrick a run for his money. Playing on his third NFL team since being drafted in 2018, Mayfield is now in line to potentially be the starting QB for the Los Angeles Rams.
After being claimed off waivers Tuesday, injuries might force Mayfield into the starting role for the team’s Thursday Night Football matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Is Baker Mayfield Playing Tonight Against the Raiders?
According to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, Mayfield will in fact be active for this Thursday Night Football matchup. Pelissero says that there is a “real” chance that Mayfield plays depending on how current starting QB John Wolford feels after suffering a neck injury back in Week 11. If the lingering injury is still causing too much pain, Mayfield will be next in line to get the start.
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Considering the newly acquired QB has only had two days to learn Sean McVay’s playbook, it will be interesting to see what kind of game plan the team would implement with Mayfield under center. Pelissero reported that Mayfield is “up to speed on the full game plan,” but that is quite hard to believe given the very short amount of time he has had to learn it.
The Rams Unlucky QB Depth Chart Situation
So, how did we get from Matthew Stafford hoisting the Lombardi Trophy to questioning whether or not Wolford or Mayfield will start a meaningless Thursday Night Football game at SoFi for the Rams? Well, it’s just one small part of what can only be described as the worst Super Bowl hangover in the history of the NFL.
The QB situation in Los Angeles started to fall apart when Stafford was injured early on in the season. After suffering a concussion, Stafford missed some time before attempting to make a return against the Saints in Week 11. Unfortunately, he was once again injured but, this time, needed to be added to the IR.
When asked if he might make an eventual return, McVay said that there was a good chance Stafford wouldn’t play again this season. According to reports, Stafford felt numbness in his legs during the Rams’ loss at New Orleans while playing just two days after clearing the concussion protocol for the first time. It was later confirmed that Stafford had suffered a spinal cord contusion.
Unfortunately for the defending Super Bowl champions, there is zero incentive to rush their veteran QB back this season. They currently sit at 3-9 on the year, and their chances of making the playoffs are all but nonexistent. They will finish the year with a losing record for the first time in McVay’s six-year coaching tenure.
Wolford, who was technically Stafford’s backup, has started two of the three games that Stafford has missed. However, Wolford is also dealing with an injury, which caused third-stringer Bryce Perkins to get a start in Week 12. Wolford has been limited in practice all week, which likely played into the team’s decision to go and get Mayfield.
All that is to say that the situation in L.A. is less than ideal. When you combine their QB woes with the fact that Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp have both missed time as well, it becomes easy to see how this team has gone from Super Bowl champion to last place in the NFC West.