Following the spinal contusion he suffered in Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints, Matthew Stafford might be on the verge of retiring from the NFL.
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The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has yet to fully recover from the blow he sustained; according to coach Sean McVay, Stafford’s legs are still numb, which has raised concerns among the team. Coach added that this injury might have ended the season for him.
Rams place QB Matthew Stafford (neck) on IR. pic.twitter.com/8t09PJiyRy
— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2022
Stafford will have one of the worst seasons in his career if he finishes the year with 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
A spinal cord injury is not ideal given the nature of the quarterback position and the constant hits players take. In fact, Stafford’s injury massively concerns Dr. David Chao as well. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, the doctor explained that the quarterback and his family have two options: have surgery to correct the problem or retire.
Former NFL doctor believes Matthew Stafford’s career is over
Matthew Stafford’s spinal cord contusion, according to former NFL physician David Chao, may put an end to the quarterback’s career.
Chao described the repercussions Stafford might experience if he continues playing professional football. The doctor advised the NFL player to consider his options carefully and not rule out retiring as the Rams quarterback.
“Both of my legs were numb because of the neck issue. When numbness develops in the legs as a result of a neck injury on both sides, it is extremely concerning. Therefore, it suggested a spinal cord issue of some sort. Needless to say, the spinal cord cannot be manipulated,” Chao explained.
“You must avoid any slight possibility of long-lasting harm. He hasn’t played this season as a result of that. The medical team needs to determine why it occurred. Was there any segment instability? Was a disc present? Was the canal getting smaller? What is it, how can it be fixed, and how can it be avoided? which might entail surgery,” the doctor went on to add.
Matthew Stafford had an exceptional first season with the Rams, completing 67.2 percent of his pass attempts for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns. It appears that he and his family will have to make a decision soon. With a 12-5 record, the Rams won the NFC West. They later won the Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium.
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