On Sunday, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told the media that quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to a spinal cord ailment.
All of a sudden, the situation for the 3-9 Rams went from dire to done.
On Tuesday, they made a move they hope will revive what was a faint hope of making the playoffs by signing quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had just been released by the Carolina Panthers after a disappointing stint with them.
On paper, it looks intriguing, especially given some of the offensive weapons L.A. has, but will Mayfield actually be a positive for the team?
In Some Ways, The Rams Are Potent, But It Likely Won’t Be Enough
The Rams, the defending Super Bowl champs, still have some talent that makes other teams envious.
They still have wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who has 812 yards and six touchdowns through nine games, and fellow wideout Allen Robinson has done well himself with 339 yards and three scores in 12 games.
McVay is a proven coach, especially on offense, and so it may seem to some that Mayfield will have every chance of reviving his career prospects.
However, the Rams have had problems, starting with injuries.
Kupp is currently out with a high ankle sprain, and although there is hope he will return before the end of the regular season, there doesn’t seem to be a firm timetable.
The Rams’ offensive line has also been banged up, not to mention lackluster this season.
The Rams are starting their 12th offensive line combination in 12 games.
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) December 4, 2022
That’s the face of a man that has found out he has to play behind the Rams offensive line. https://t.co/ylBKrYEKJ7
— WazzusJobu (@WazzusJobu) December 6, 2022
But the biggest thing to note is the fact that Mayfield has been a disappointment this season, as he has completed just 57.8 percent of his passes and thrown as many interceptions (six) as touchdowns.
In addition, he will have to learn a new offense on the fly, which is a difficult task so late in the season.
Perhaps Mayfield will lead the Rams to a victory or two once Kupp returns, but don’t expect him to set the world on fire at this point.
NEXT: The Rams May Have The Fast Track To Baker Mayfield