May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks Matthew Stafford (9) and Jimmy Garoppolo (11) look on during OTAs at the team training facility at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rams to rest QB Matthew Stafford; Jimmy Garoppolo gets start

The Los Angeles Rams are resting quarterback Matthew Stafford and will start Jimmy Garoppolo for the regular-season finale on Sunday against the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

Rams coach Sean McVay made the announcement Wednesday after giving an indication Monday that he planned to rest most of the team’s key starters.

The Rams (10-6) have won the NFC West by virtue of a tiebreaker should they lose to the second-place Seahawks (9-7). Los Angeles will be at home for the wild-card round, either as a fourth or third seed in the NFC playoffs.

A victory over Seattle could move Los Angeles from fourth to third and a game against either the Washington Commanders or Green Bay Packers. A loss to the Seahawks and a win by Tampa Bay (9-7) over the New Orleans Saints would boost the Buccaneers to the third seed, and the Rams would host the loser of the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions as those teams battle for the top seed.

Stafford, 36, has started all 16 games and completed 340 of 517 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions.

The first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by Detroit, Stafford has passed for 59,809 yards, 377 touchdowns and 188 interceptions in 222 games (all starts) for the Lions (2009-20) and Rams (2021-present).

He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2023.

Garoppolo, 33, is in his first season with the Rams after signing as a free agent in March and has not appeared in a game. He has thrown for 15,494 career yards, 94 TDs and 51 picks in 81 games (63 starts) for the New England Patriots (2014-16), San Francisco 49ers (2017-22) and Las Vegas Raiders (2023).

New England selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Eastern Illinois.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) walks off the field after the Chiefs defeated the Raiders 31-17 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo to receive 2-game ban

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being suspended two games by the NFL for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy, multiple outlets reported on Friday.

Per reports, Garoppolo used a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the NFL.

The Raiders are expected to part ways with Garoppolo prior to the fifth day of the new league year in March. He is due to receive an $11.25 million roster bonus if he remained with the team at that time. Under the terms of his contract, the suspension will void another $11.25 million in guaranteed salary, per Spotrac.

Should that be the case, Las Vegas would have last year’s rookie Aidan O’Connell and veteran Brian Hoyer as quarterbacks on its roster entering the new league year.

Garoppolo, 32, was benched after Josh McDaniels was fired as the Raiders’ head coach on Nov. 1, save for a spot appearance in which he had one incomplete pass and a sack in the team’s season finale against the Denver Broncos on Jan. 7.

Garoppolo completed 65.1 percent of his throws for 1,205 yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven games this past season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to make a pass against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo ‘good to go’ vs. Lions

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is set to play Monday night against the Detroit Lions after missing last week’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels called Garoppolo “good to go” for Monday after the veteran worked his way through a back injury.

“I think he’s got a little pep in his step,” McDaniels said of his quarterback. “He’s much the same as everybody else is. He didn’t play last week but I think he wants to get us headed in the right direction and start doing some things we haven’t been doing well.”

Garoppolo, in his first season with the Raiders (3-4), did not play in the team’s humbling 30-12 defeat last week as Brian Hoyer and Aidan O’Connell struggled to move the ball with a combined 196 yards passing and three interceptions.

Garoppolo, 31, has completed 68 percent of his passes in five games this season for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns but has eight interceptions.

In 10 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Raiders, Garoppolo has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 15,368 yards, 94 touchdowns and 50 interceptions over 79 games (62 starts).

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to make a pass against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Raiders rule out QB Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Bears

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out of this weekend’s game against the host Chicago Bears, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

Garoppolo is nursing a back injury sustained in the Raiders’ 21-17 victory over the visiting New England Patriots last Sunday.

Although Brian Hoyer replaced Garoppolo against the Patriots, rookie Aidan O’Connell could be in line to make his second career start this Sunday.

O’Connell, 25, completed 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards with one interception in his lone start this season, a 24-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 1. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Hoyer, 38, went 6-for-10 for 102 yards in relief of Garoppolo last week.

Garoppolo, 31, has completed 68.0 percent of his passes for 1,079 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions in five games this season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo (back) misses practice

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed practice Wednesday with the back injury that occurred last week against the New England Patriots.

Garoppolo’s status for this week’s game against the one-win Chicago Bears is uncertain.

Garoppolo “dodged a big bullet” in terms of internal injuries after leaving last week’s win with a back injury, coach Josh McDaniels said Monday.

Garoppolo, 31, was reportedly taken to a local hospital for evaluation after departing the 21-17 home win against the Patriots, as the Raiders improved to 3-3.

He directed the Raiders’ final drive of the first half but did not return, leaving with a 13-3 lead after completing 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Brian Hoyer replaced Garoppolo on Las Vegas’ first possession of the third quarter. He finished the game 6-of-10 passing for 102 yards.

McDaniels would not say Wednesday if Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell would draw the start against the Bears in the event Garoppolo remains sidelined.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) looks to make a pass against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo ‘dodged a big bullet’

Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo “dodged a big bullet” in terms of internal injuries after leaving Sunday’s win with a back injury, coach Josh McDaniels said Monday.

“The prognosis is a lot better than it might otherwise have been,” McDaniels said.

Garoppolo continues to undergo testing and his status is uncertain for this Sunday when the Raiders (3-3) visit the Chicago Bears (1-5).

Garoppolo, 31, was reportedly taken to a local hospital for evaluation after departing the 21-17 home win against the New England Patriots.

He directed the Raiders’ final drive of the first half but did not return, leaving with a 13-3 lead after completing 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Brian Hoyer replaced Garoppolo on Las Vegas’ first possession of the third quarter. He finished the game 6-for-10 passing for 102 yards.

Originally drafted by the Patriots in 2014, Garoppolo joined the Raiders this offseason after a six-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) flips the ball away to avoid being sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley (8) during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo injures back, out vs. Patriots

The Raiders lost starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a back injury in Las Vegas’s home game against the New England Patriots Sunday.

Garoppolo directed the Raiders’ final drive of the first half but never returned to the field for the Raiders after that.

Several media outlets reported that Garoppolo exited the stadium in an ambulance for a local hospital.

The Raiders built a 13-3 lead with Garoppolo under center, as he threw for 162 yards and a touchdown with one interception on 14-of-22 passing.

Brian Hoyer replaced Garoppolo on the Raiders’ first possession of the third quarter.

Originally drafted by the Patriots in 2014, Garoppolo joined the Raiders this offseason after a six-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo off injury list, set to start

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is off the injury list and expected to start Monday night’s game against the visiting Green Bay Packers.

Garoppolo cleared the concussion protocol on Friday and practiced in full for the first time since being injured Sept. 24 in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Also, star receiver Davante Adams (shoulder) practiced in a limited role Saturday. He’s hopeful of playing against the Packers, the team he played for across eight seasons before being traded to the Raiders prior to the 2022 campaign.

Cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday night. He also sat out versus the Chargers.

The Raiders (1-3) are slight favorites over the Packers (2-2).

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo still in concussion protocol

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remained in the concussion protocol Wednesday, though his coach is hopeful he’ll be able to play in Week 4.

Garoppolo has been participating in meetings but is not expected to practice Wednesday. Garoppolo’s backups are 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell.

“But we’ll give the guys reps in practice — they usually get reps anyway, to some degree. It’ll be a little bit more, obviously, if Jimmy’s not out there today. So, we’ll just take it one day at a time, do the best we can and then we’ll see what tomorrow brings,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels told reporters.

Garoppolo was sacked four times but played every snap in Sunday night’s 23-18 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is unclear when the injury occurred to Garoppolo, who was never checked during the game and finished with 324 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. A postgame evaluation discovered the concussion.

“We’ll see how Jimmy progresses through the week. … It’s moving. We’ll see how fast it goes,” McDaniels added.

Garoppolo, 31, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal in the offseason, has thrown for 709 yards, five TDs and six picks in three starts for Las Vegas (1-2).

Hoyer, 37, has a 16-24 record across 15 seasons with eight NFL teams but hasn’t won a game since October 2016.

O’Connell, a fourth-round pick from Purdue, played well in the preseason and could push Hoyer for the starting spot if Garoppolo can’t go against the host Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) walks back to the huddle after being knocked to the ground by the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo checked for concussion after loss

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was checked for a concussion after the team’s 23-18 loss to the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, the team announced.

Garoppolo, who was sacked four times, was never checked during the game and played its entirety. There was no word on the results of the evaluation. The team announced the evaluation after coach Josh McDaniels’ postgame news conference, leaving it unclear when the injury possibly occurred.

The 10-year veteran almost rallied the Raiders from a 23-7 deficit. Las Vegas travels to Los Angeles to meet the Chargers next week.

Garoppolo, 31, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal to join the Raiders in the offseason, passed for 324 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions as Las Vegas fell to 1-2.

Garoppolo, who spent the past six years with the San Francisco 49ers, has thrown for 709 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions this season.

–Field Level Media