The Los Angeles Rams will take on the Chicago Bears in an NFC Divisional Round matchup on Sunday, January 18.
The Rams advanced to the next round of the playoffs thanks to a Wild Card win over the Carolina Panthers. Los Angeles narrowly avoided defeat, winning 34-31 and scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 38 seconds left in regulation. The Rams stay alive in the postseason but didn't come out of the game unscathed.
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is dealing with a sprained finger. He suffered the injury during the game but played through it. Adrenaline fueled him to the comeback win, but there is now concern that his finger injury could hinder him against Chicago.
Here is more on what happened to Stafford's finger in the Wild Card win over the Panthers.
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What's wrong with Matthew Stafford's finger?
Stafford is dealing with a sprained finger. He picked up the injury in the Wild Card win over the Panthers. After a pass, Stafford's hand connected with a defender's arm in his follow-through.
Matthew Stafford sprained his finger on his throwing hand but will be “good to go” vs the Bears Sunday, per HC Sean McVay.Pic.twitter.com/oXk9MiZYP1
— Pick 6 Pack (@Pick6PackFB) January 12, 2026
What happened to Matthew Stafford's finger?
Stafford sprained his finger when he hit it on a defender's arm after a pass in the Wild Card victory over the Panthers. Head coach Sean McVay told the media that despite the injury, the veteran QB will play against the Bears in the Divisional Round. Stafford himself was asked how his finger was doing. He kept his answer short and sweet and simply said, "Great."
Stafford is not planning to wear a brace or splint of any kind for the game and plans to attack it business as usual.
MORE: Inside Matthew Stafford's career playoff record
Matthew Stafford injury history
Stafford was the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The quarterback has played 17 years in the NFL and is bound to pick up some bumps and bruises along the way. Overall, though, Stafford has stayed relatively healthy. Stafford's teams have played 277 regular-season games during his career, and he has suited up for 239 of them. The 38 games that he has missed have been due to a mix of injuries as well as rest before the postseason.
| Date | Injury | Games missed |
| 10/4/2009 | Knee Sprain | 2 |
| 11/22/2009 | Shoulder A/C Joint Separation | 4 |
| 12/6/2009 | Shoulder A/C Joint Separation | 4 |
| 11/7/2010 | Shoulder A/C Joint Separation | 8 |
| 11/3/2019 | Back Tailbone Fracture | 8 |
| 11/6/2022 | Concussion | 1 |
| 11/20/2022 | Spine Bruise | 7 |
| 10/29/2023 | Thumb Sprain | 1 |
| Total | -- | 35 |