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If you click on John Wolford’s stats page, it reads “NO RESULTS AVAILABLE” in large, bold print. This is not a filter issue or a loading issue. The 25-year-old quarterback hasn’t taken any NFL regular-season snaps in his career.
Wolford does not have time to crawl or use a walking aid. No, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback has to run from his first shot, making his NFL debut in a Week 17 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
After planning a career in finance, product Wake Forest set aside a banking gig to try his hand as an NFL QB. Undrafted in 2018, Wolford got a call from the New York Jets, where he spent the preseason. Then he made a mark in the AAF with the Arizona Hotshots, completing 63.1% of his passes for 1,617 yards (second most in the league), 7.8 yards per attempt with a record 14 touchdowns by the AAF with seven interceptions and a score of 95.9 QB. .
Following his stint in the defunct league, Wolford landed as a replacement for Jared Goff in 2019. With Sean McVay as his coach, there is no better place for a young quarterback to work every day. After Goff underwent thumb surgery this week, Wolford’s first career shots will come in a high pressure situation.
“It was a fun trip to get to this point,” Wolford said Wednesday, via The Associated Press. “It’s a lot of hard work, and I’m confident in the time I’ve spent that has brought me here. I’m confident in my abilities as a player. I know I can turn it. know how to be successful. throws, and then mentally it’s about making the right decisions. “
If you’re looking for anecdotes ahead of Sunday’s game, there’s this excellent nugget about Wolford: at the start of Week 17, he’s 22 fewer NFL pass attempts (0) in his career than the Rams Johnny Hekker (13 of 22, 184 assists, 1 TD, 1 career INT).
The high stakes don’t worry the former demon deacon.
“I’m just going to put my head down and work to the best of my ability,” Wolford said. “Whatever happens, I can sleep at night. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”
Wolford will become the 25th quarterback to make his first career start in Week 17 (since the NFL switched to a 16-game season in 1978). The previous 24 have a record of 5-19 WL, but each of the last two has won (Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City in 2017 at DEN and Kyle Allen of Caroline in 2018 at NO).
It’s a new challenge for McVay. Goff has started all but one of the coach’s tenure in Los Angeles, a Week 17 game in 2017 when the starter rested. Sean Mannion started that day with the Rams having already won NFC West.
Sunday’s secondary situation will be very different.
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