Jared Goff will start at quarterback for the Rams in their NFC divisional round playoff game against the Packers on Saturday.
Goff has not started since the Rams’ Week 16 defeat to the Seahawks. He suffered a broken right thumb in the game and underwent surgery the next day.
NFL PLAYOFFS: Divisional round picks against the spread
John Wolford, who played in Week 17 and then again in the playoff opener against Seattle, took a blow to the head last weekend. Wolford was not able to return — which required Goff to step up, still nursing his thumb — and the 25-year-old has now been ruled out against the Packers, the team confirmed Thursday.
That means a return for Goff, who completed just 9 of 19 passes from the bench last time out but threw for a touchdown and no interceptions in an upset win.
McVay: QB John Wolford will be OUT on Saturday vs. Green Bay
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 14, 2021
The 2016 first overall draft pick has failed to convince since a dismal Super Bowl defeat at the end of the 2018 season. Goff was rewarded for that playoff run with a new $134 million contract, including a then-record $110 million in guarantees, yet he has thrown 29 picks over the subsequent two campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Week 17 win over the Cardinals was Wolford’s NFL bow, and he put up 231 passing yards and another 56 over the ground.
With Wolford not involved at all against Green Bay this week, Blake Bortles is in line to serve as backup to Goff.