Rams announce starting QB for Week 18

The Rams have clinched a playoff berth, doing so after a lower-key offseason pointed to more of a retooling year. But they are not locked into a seed just yet. Nevertheless, the team will rest its starting quarterback in Week 18.

Matthew Stafford will take a seat for the Rams’ regular-season finale, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, with Carson Wentz taking the reins for the first time. The Rams added Wentz midway through the season, doing so after Brett Rypien struggled in relief of Stafford in Green Bay.

Los Angeles’ loss in Green Bay is suddenly relevant. If the Packers beat the Bears and the Rams lose to what will likely be a cast of 49ers second-stringers, Green Bay becomes the NFC’s No. 6 seed and Los Angeles drops to the No. 7 spot. The Cowboys and Lions, respectively, are the likely Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in the NFC. This could conceivably derail a Stafford return to Detroit in Round 1, though the 49ers will not be at full strength after having clinched home-field advantage in the NFC bracket.

Wentz signed a one-year deal worth $733K with the Rams on Nov. 7 and immediately became Stafford’s backup. The Rams have seen their starter return to form this season, operating as one of the NFC’s best quarterbacks after multiple injuries nagged him in 2022. Wentz, 31, has now had nearly two months to learn Sean McVay‘s playbook. This represents an audition opportunity for the scrutinized passer, who was not closely linked to a team before the Rams agreement came to pass.

The Eagles, Colts and Commanders have moved on from Wentz over the past three offseasons. After he produced a solid TD-INT ratio in Indianapolis (27 TDs, seven picks), Wentz finished poorly and saw Jim Irsay effectively order him to be dealt. The Commanders traded two third-round picks for the former No. 2 overall choice, but after a season in which Wentz did not get his job back for several weeks after returning from a hand injury, Washington released him to create considerable cap space. Last season, Wentz threw 11 touchdown passes and nine INTs — three of the picks coming in a Week 17 start against the Browns. The Commanders benched him for Sam Howell in Week 18 of last season.

Baker Mayfield‘s signs of life in McVay’s offense helped land him a starting job this season, but Wentz obviously will have a smaller window to showcase his form. But Wentz will have a chance to play before likely returning to free agency in March.