(AP) — GREEN BAY, WI Due to a sprained ligament in his right thumb, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will not play against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Prior to Sunday’s game, Stafford was one of the Rams’ (3-5) listed inactive players.
The Rams’ situation wasn’t entirely dire, though, as rookie receiver Puka Nacua—who had been listed as questionable due to a knee issue—will now be available. Linebacker Quay Walker (groyne) and safety Rudy Ford (calf) will be out for the Packers.
Following a thumb injury sustained in a 43–20 loss at Dallas, Stafford had not practised all week. In the closing seconds of the first half, he attempted a 2-point conversion pass that failed, resulting in a thumb injury to his throwing hand.
The Rams’ situation wasn’t entirely dire, though, as rookie receiver Puka Nacua—who had been listed as questionable due to a knee issue—will now be available. Linebacker Quay Walker (groyne) and safety Rudy Ford (calf) will be out for the Packers.
Following a thumb injury sustained in a 43–20 loss at Dallas, Stafford had not practised all week. In the closing seconds of the first half, he attempted a 2-point conversion pass that failed, resulting in a thumb injury to his throwing hand.
Stafford was marked as questionable on the Rams’ injury report from Friday. Rams head coach Sean McVay had stated that “you use all the time necessary” and that he would be prepared to check Stafford’s availability right up until the last minute.
Stafford was marked as questionable on the Rams’ injury report from Friday. Rams head coach Sean McVay had stated that “you use all the time necessary for a player like him” and that he would be open to waiting until the very last minute to find out Stafford’s availability.
Brett Rypien will start for the fourth time in his career due to Stafford’s injury. During the Cowboys game, Rypien replaced Stafford and completed 5 of 10 passes for 42 yards without a touchdown or an interception.
Despite having a 2-1 record as a starter, Rypien has completed 60.7% of his career passes with eight interceptions and four touchdowns. For Denver, he started one game in 2020 and two more in 2022.
For Sunday’s game, the Rams also added quarterback Dresser Winn from their practise squad to their active roster.
The Green Bay defence, which is dealing with more than just Walker and Ford’s absence, will test the 27-year-old Rypien.
Before Tuesday’s trade deadline, Green Bay (2-5) traded cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a third-round selection and a 2024 fifth-round pick.
Due to injuries, Packers safety Darnell Savage (calf) and cornerback Eric Stokes (hamstring) won’t be able to return to action until at least Thanksgiving.
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The Green Bay Packers made their list of inactive players public before their Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams. This is what you should know about it and how it might affect Sunday’s game.
It seems like Green Bay is getting healthier every week; only Rudy Ford and Quay Walker are considered questionable on the final injury report. But neither of them worked out on Friday, and that’s usually a bad indication for Sundays. They’ll both miss it.
Packers’ Samori Toure, WR, is not available.
Overtime Jones Caleb
Brenton Cox, OLB
Rudy S. Ford
LB Walker Quay
Given that Ford is likely out of the lineup, Anthony Johnson, a rookie selected in the seventh round, will likely start beside Jonathan Owens. Having missed the first five games of the season due to injury, Johnson has spent the last two games mainly playing special teams. He has only played eight defensive snaps overall, most of which have come when the Packers are down a man.
In addition to moving straight from college to the NFL, Johnson only has two seasons under his belt at safety after playing cornerback for Iowa State for his first four years of college.
Johnson stated on Friday, “I’m still kind of learning a few things, I won’t get into specifics.” “There are even instances where I mentioned to Coach Broomfield, my former DB coach, things he had taught me the previous year, and I’m only now realising that’s what he meant. I then go to Ryan Downard, and I’m like, ‘Oh, okay,’ and it all makes sense. That’s what makes the transition enjoyable: it’s entertaining.
Due to a sprained ligament in his right thumb
In Walker’s absence, Isaiah McDuffie is probably going to start beside De’Vondre Campbell. McDuffie started in place of Campbell earlier in the season while he was out.
The Packers’ linebackers and safeties will both have difficult assignments today against the Rams. The Rams have three receivers that can put pressure on the Green Bay defence, even without Matthew Stafford. On short to intermediate routes over the middle of the field, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are frequently targeted because of their ability to break apart, get the ball in space, and create opportunities for yards after the catch. In terms of receptions of 20 yards or more, Tutu Atwell is sixth among all receivers, and Tyler Higbee has also proven to be a dependable target this year.
It’s also noteworthy that Toure is not one of the inactive players like Malik Heath, who has been for the past few weeks. The Packers are making a small adjustment because the receiver room is currently having difficulties. Having said that, Heath’s function as the fifth option is probably going to be minimal. To put things in perspective, Toure has only appeared in 14 snaps overall over the past three games.
After an outstanding summer in which he continued to make plays in the passing game and demonstrated his willingness and ability to block, Heath was added to the Packers’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie. This was a crucial component of Heath’s role as a receiver in the Matt LaFleur offence.
Caleb Jones and Brenton Cox are the Packers’ remaining inactives. I think these two will be more inactive than not as long as Green Bay is still relatively healthy. Jones is the fourth offensive tackle option right now and is obviously still in his developmental phase as a 2022 undrafted rookie; Cox is the fifth man in a Packers edge rusher rotation that mostly uses four.
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