Rams reportedly were only team to place claim on Baker Mayfield
Quarterback Baker Mayfield did not immediately attract a ton of interest from clubs after he was waived by the Carolina Panthers on Monday.
It was learned that the Los Angeles Rams claimed Mayfield on Tuesday, and ESPN’s Field Yates has since tweeted that the Rams were the only team to place a waiver claim for the 27-year-old.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter (h/t Sarah Barshop) reported that Mayfield has “a shot” to make his Los Angeles debut when the 3-9 Rams host the 5-7 Las Vegas Raiders this Thursday night.
On Monday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said that “teams I’ve talked to say (Mayfield’s) days as an NFL starter could be numbered.”
Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen hinted Tuesday that’s not yet the case.
“It’s just kind of acquiring talent, to be honest, and acquiring somebody to come in and evaluate him, but also our offense,” Coen told reporters about the team taking a flier on Mayfield. “Continuing to evaluate the offense [and] the other players. It’s more so about acquiring talent. Just getting somebody in here that we can continue to develop some competitive nature within the room.”
If Mayfield doesn’t play Thursday, the Rams presumably will get him ready to start at the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 19.
Rams starter Matthew Stafford last played during a loss to the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 20 and was officially placed on injured reserve because of a spinal cord contusion this past weekend.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport previously suggested Stafford could consider retiring this winter after he was evaluated for concussions on multiple occasions in November, but Rams head coach Sean McVay later indicated the 34-year-old didn’t even wish to be shut down for the remainder of this season.
As for Mayfield, ESPN stats show he ranks last in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks with an 18.3 total QBR on the campaign.
He’s 32nd with a 74.4 passer rating and a 57.8% completion percentage, and he matched six touchdown passes with six interceptions in seven games for the Panthers before Monday’s development.
