Rams QB Goff, RB Henderson injured ahead of Cardinals game

Much like the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Rams enter the season finale coming off a disjointed offensive effort with their head coach trying to take the blame.

But Rams coach Sean McVay may be in a tougher spot than the Cardinals’ Kliff Kingsbury because of injuries to starting quarterback Jared Goff and running back Darrell Henderson.

Goff broke and dislocated his thumb in Los Angeles’ 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. His status was up in the air after he played through the issue, with the wait on a decision if he could put off surgery, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Later on Monday, the report came down that Goff was having the surgery. Per Rapoport, Goff thinks he has a “shot” of playing.

Henderson is reportedly unlikely to play after suffering a high ankle sprain, reports Rapoport.

Goff completed a nine-yard pass to tight end Gerald Everett with 44 seconds left in the third quarter Sunday but banged his right thumb on the helmet of Seahawks pass-rusher Benson Mayowa. The Rams quarterback popped his thumb back into place and finished the game.

After the game, McVay and Goff held off declaring his status.

“I don’t want to speculate on that,” McVay said Sunday, according to The Associated Press. “I know he battled, and I have a lot of respect for the toughness that he exuded today to be able to finish that game out.”

Rapoport added that the Rams want to see how the quarterback can grip and throw the ball in the coming days.

Seattle only led Los Angeles 13-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Rams went into a pass-heavy mode following Goff’s injury. The Los Angeles quarterback went 5-of-14 for 74 yards and took all three of his sacks on the day after suffering his thumb injury.

For the game, Goff finished 24-of-43 for 243 yards and an interception that happened before getting hurt.

“I need to stop trying to make a play if it’s not there,” Goff said after the game Sunday. “I think that’s what the result of today is: dumb. Just really dumb. I’m a lot smarter than that. I’m the quarterback of this team and I’m trying to score points, and it’s led to some dumb decisions.”

“It’s OK right now,” Goff added of his thumb. “It’s not terrible. We’ll see tomorrow.”

The loss of Henderson, who rushed 12 times for 67 yards against the Seahawks, would further deplete Los Angeles’ backfield. Henderson is the team’s leader with 624 rushing yards this year.

The Rams also lost rookie Cam Akers to a high ankle sprain two weeks ago in their loss to the New York Jets. Akers has 591 rushing yards this year.

If neither Henderson or Akers will go, Malcolm Brown, who has 399 yards this season, would be expected to carry the load for Los Angeles.

The Cardinals enter the game with their quarterback and running back room in less-than-ideal shape. Kyler Murray suffered an injury on his final play of Arizona’s 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, while backup running back Chase Edmonds left the game with a hip issue.

Murray’s injury is reportedly not serious.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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