Rams may be fighting for a playoff spot in Week 17 without Jared Goff or top-2 RBs

The Los Angeles Rams lost to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but they may have also lost their starting quarterback and starting running back ahead of Week 17’s all-important game against the Arizona Cardinals. Jared Goff suffered a dislocated and broken thumb when he hit his hand on the helmet of Seahawks defensive lineman Benson Mayowa on Sunday. Goff finished the game but was uncertain afterwards if it would impact his ability to play in the regular season finale.

The Rams are 9-6 and a win over the Cardinals would guarantee them a wild card berth. A loss and a win by the Chicago Bears would mean that LA is out of the postseason at 9-7 for the second year in a row.

In addition to potentially playing without Goff for the first time since 2016, the Rams could be without their top two options at running back.

Already playing without Cam Akers because of a high ankle sprain, “backup” Darrell Henderson returned as starter vs Seattle. Henderson had 12 carries for 62 yards but the final attempt resulted in Seahawks safety Jamal Adams chasing him down from behind and getting his ankle under Adams’ body on the tackle. Henderson left the game and did not return. His status has not been updated since but it appears that Malcolm Brown could be starting against Arizona in Week 17 if Henderson is unable to go.

Brown had 18 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, when Henderson was nursing a hamstring injury and Akers had also missed time in training camp. The Rams have not give any carries to any other running backs this season, but Xavier Jones or Raymond Calais could be called into action next week.

If Goff is unable to start, it would mark the first regular season snaps by backup John Wolford in his NFL career.

With the wild card — and definitely playoff seeding at the least — in the balance.