#Rams bringing back Blake Bortles in playoff desperation

The Los Angeles Rams look like they’ll be without starting QB Jared Goff for Week 17, a game they could need to win if they want to secure a spot in the playoffs. Goff suffered a broken thumb in the Rams’ loss against the Seahawks, and underwent surgery to repair it on Monday.

The Rams’ current backup QB is John Wolford, a former undrafted free agent from Wake Forest who has never thrown an NFL pass. His last game action came for the Arizona Hotshots, a team in the now-disbanded AAF.

So as insurance, the Rams are signing Blake Bortles off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bortles, the former No. 3 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, spent the 2019 season as Goff’s backup with the Rams. He appeared in three games, throwing two passes and completing one for three yards.

The Rams have already committed to Wolford as their starter, but Bortles is familiar with head coach Sean McVay’s system and can be promoted to the active roster for Sunday’s game.

The Rams will clinch a wild-card appearance if they beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. But if they lose, and the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers, they will be eliminated.

They hope to have Goff back for wild-card weekend.