Rams’ Stafford in concussion protocol again
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will miss his second game in three weeks after going back into the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Wednesday that Stafford will sit out when the Rams (3-7) visit Kansas City on Sunday, though the coach said Stafford might not have a concussion.
Stafford left the Rams’ loss at New Orleans early last Sunday when he felt numbness in his legs following a hit. He has been examined by doctors who haven’t yet determined whether he incurred a concussion but is back in the protocol because of the way he exited the game, McVay said.
“We’re checking all those boxes and going through all that,” McVay said. “There’s a lot of layers to it, but you certainly want to make sure you’re doing everything in your power to (address) exactly what went into that feeling, and letting the experts be able to give their opinion, look at the MRI and those scans, and be able to give the right information so that we can move forward accordingly with him.”
Stafford missed the Rams’ loss to Arizona two weeks ago after going into the protocol the first time.
With Stafford sidelined, the Rams are uncertain who will play quarterback when they face the Chiefs.
Third-stringer Bryce Perkins will get most of the snaps in practice because backup John Wolford has a lingering neck injury that forced him to miss the game against the Saints.
Stafford was one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks over the previous 12 years. He had missed only eight games — all in the 2019 season with Detroit because of a back injury — before his absence against the Cardinals.
More QB news: Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that quarterback Mike White will start Sunday against the Bears, replacing Zach Wilson. Joe Flacco will serve as White’s backup, and Wilson will not be active for the game.
In a 10-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, Wilson was 9-for-22 passing for 77 yards. He has a 5-2 record as a starter this season.
“Zach’s career here is not over,” Saleh said, adding that the plan is to have the second-year quarterback “reset” with the hope Wilson plays again this season. “This is not putting a nail in his coffin.
“We haven’t wavered in our belief that he’s going to be the future of this franchise.”
• The Texans plan to start Kyle Allen at quarterback in place of Davis Mills when Houston faces the Dolphins on Sunday, NFL.com reported.
Mills, a third-round draft pick from Stanford in 2021, has started the first 11 games for the Texans, throwing for 2,144 yards with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 61.9% of his passes.
• Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, who missed Monday’s game in Mexico City against the 49ers because of a hamstring injury, said he expects to play Sunday against the Chargers.
“I do,” Murray told NFL.com. “It feels good.”
More medical news: The Chiefs put running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on injured reserve because of a high ankle sprain and activated offensive lineman Lucas Niang from the physically-unable-to-perform list. ... Washington quarterback Carson Wentz, sidelined for five games because of a broken finger, has been designated to return from IR. The move gives the team three weeks to activate Wentz. Washington head coach Ron Rivera has said that Taylor Heinicke will remain the starting quarterback when Wentz returns.
Briefly: The Cardinals fired offensive line coach Sean Kugler before their game in Mexico City. ESPN reported that Kugler allegedly groped a woman Sunday night and was sent home Monday morning . ... The Jaguars claimed running back Darrell Henderson, who was waived by the Rams on Tuesday, NFL Network reported.