Rams vs. Cardinals 2022: Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray In Danger Of Missing NFC West Game

The most important players in Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are in danger of not playing. Both starting quarterbacks are on the injury report just a few days before this pivotal NFC West matchup.

Kyler Murray didn't practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury, raising questions about his Week 10 status. Matthew Stafford was put in concussion protocol Tuesday. The Rams quarterback is unlikely to practice much this week, and he could be forced to sit for the first time since being traded to Los Angeles.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said that he didn't notice Stafford exhibiting any symptom of a concussion after the team's Week 9 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Members of the medical staff decided that Stafford should be put in concussion protocol after speaking with him.

"Whether or not that means he has a concussion or not isn't for me to truly understand," McVay told reporters Wednesday. "But there's the necessary steps that we need to take."

Colt McCoy is Arizona's backup quarterback and will get the call if Murray cannot play. John Wolford is Los Angeles' No. 2 signal caller behind Stafford.

McCoy is one of the most experienced backup quarterbacks in the NFL. The veteran has made 33 career starts since 2010, including at least one start in four straight seasons. When Murray was sidelined with an ankle injury last season, McCoy went 2-1 as Arizona's starter.

McCoy had 684 passing yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a triple-digit passer rating in those three starts.

Wolford only has one career start since college, and it came in an empty SoFi Stadium. The Rams backup completed 22 of 38 pass attempts for 231 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in the 2020 season finale against the Cardinals. Wolford ran six times for 56 yards in an 18-7 victory over Arizona.

"I know Matthew's going to do everything in his power to try to be able to be ready and we'll just take it a day at a time," McVay said. "But John's a guy that when he's been in these situations, he's stepped in and done a really good job. And it wasn't too long ago that he had to come in in a game that we had to have to be able to get into the playoffs and he performed incredibly well."

Neither the Rams nor the Cardinals can afford to lose Sunday if they hope to get back into the NFC West race. Both teams have a losing record with three fewer wins than the Seattle Seahawks, which sit comfortably atop the division.

Arizona has lost four of its last five games. Murray's 86.9 passer rating is the lowest of his career. Los Angeles is off to a 3-5 start after winning the Super Bowl. Stafford leads NFC quarterbacks with eight interceptions and has been sacked 28 times.

The Rams beat the Cardinals 20-12 in Arizona in Week 3.