Sean McVay provides early injury update on Rams QB Matthew Stafford that should give the Bears a firm answer on what to expect this week
The Los Angeles Rams expect Matthew Stafford to play on Sunday despite finger injury.
The Chicago Bears learned who the team will be facing next in the NFC Division Round and that team will be the Los Angeles Rams led by head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford, with the game set for Sunday at Soldier Field.
Stafford and the Rams had their own excitement in the fourth quarter on Saturday in the first round against the Carolina Panthers, with four lead changes taking place in that final quarter alone.
Yet, the Rams came out victorious after Stafford led a 71-yard touchdown drive, accounting for every single yard on that drive. It was impressive stuff from the MVP candidate and even more impressive considering Stafford was dealing with an injury on his throwing hand.
Matthew Stafford’s finger injury not expected to hold him out of playoff game vs. Bears
On Sunday, X-rays came back negative regarding Stafford’s finger injury, which means he did not suffer a broken finger. On Monday, McVay met with reporters a noted the injury is “a little sprain on his index finger” but added Stafford will be “good to go” against the Bears on Sunday.
This should be seen as no surprise. Stafford is as tough as they come, something Bears fans should know well going back to his time with the Detroit Lions. It has to be a pretty significant injury to keep this guy out of a postseason game.
“I’ve got so much respect for that guy,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said on Monday. “You talk about the ultimate competitor. He’s one of the more supremely talented throwers of the football I’ve ever been around in my life. He’s outstanding. I think he’s a great teammate. But what I think is second-to-none with him is his toughness, physical toughness. This guy’s gone through a lot and yet finds a way to will himself onto the field to be there for his teammates. When you look at him from just a competitor standpoint, this is a really good player, and he’s going to will himself to help his team out the most.”
Stafford started Saturday’s game 9/9 passing and was playing at an exceptionally high level. After the injury occurred in the third quarter, Stafford was 2/12 for 34 yards and had one interception. However, Stafford showed off his guts (and adrenaline) in the fourth quarter completing 12 of his 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns.
It’s clear, in that moment, the injury was of no concern to Stafford. Especially when you watch the game-winning touchdown pass he threw to tight end Colby Parkinson.
Bears defense will have a tough challenge, injury or not, against Matthew Stafford
Now that the adrenaline has worn off, Stafford is likely starting to feel the effects of that finger injury, but now he gets the full week (plus an extra day) to recover in time for Sunday’s game.
The Bears will need to be ready for the best version of Stafford, the one that led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns during the regular season.
The advantage is on Chicago’s side with brutal cold conditions expected at Soldier Field this weekend, a stadium McVay has never won at during his tenure as the Rams head coach. Getting Stafford off his groove, and forcing some more takeaways, will be paramount if the Bears want to advance to the conference championship game.
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