Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff hopes to return to the playoffs, but his team will have to get there first without him.
Goff underwent surgery on his broken and dislocated right thumb on Monday and hopes to be able to return to the postseason, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported.
Goff will miss the team’s regular season final against the Arizona Cardinals, with John Wolford likely starting Goff.
With 15 games this season for the Rams (9-6), Goff managed to shoot for 3,952 yards (263.5 per game) with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He played during Sunday’s 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, despite hurting his thumb.
Goff broke and dislocated his throwing thumb when his hand hit a Seahawks defender’s helmet in the third quarter. Later, Goff could be seen on the broadcast putting his thumb back in place.
A win or draw against the Cardinals (8-7) – or a loss or draw for the Chicago Bears – would guarantee a spot in the Rams playoff on Sunday.
If that happens, Goff wants to return to the playoffs and believes he has a chance, said Rapoport. Week 17’s tilt against the Cardinals will be the first of Goff’s career lost due to injury, according to NFL Research.
Goff’s surgery will be done by Dr. Steven Shin, reported Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Shin is the expert on Rams’ hands and also noticed the thumb of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees last season.
With Goff undergoing surgery, Wolford, 25, is likely to take the lead. The 1.80 meter Wolford has yet to play in the regular NFL season and joined the Rams after a 2019 stint at Alliance of American Football’s Arizona Hot Shots.
While the Rams go with a former AAF standout, the Cardinals are hopeful of having Kyler Murray (leg) for Sunday’s clash, but if Murray can’t make it, the former Canadian Football League standout Chris Streveler is No. 2 on the depth chart.