Los Angeles Rams quarterback Mattew Stafford is in concussion protocol, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Wednesday in an unexpected announcement.

While it’s unclear when exactly Stafford was injured, McVay said that the quarterback was being routinely examined after the Rams 16-13 loss to the Tampa Buccaneers on Sunday when the decision to place him in protocols was made.

“They felt like that was the best thing for him and that’s kind of where we are with it,” McVay said.

Stafford was hit eight times and sacked four times in the loss. He’s been sacked 28 times this season, third most in the NFL.

While McVay added that the plan is to take it “a day at a time” with Stafford, that will really be the team’s only option. There are no shortcuts through concussion protocol, especially now.

The reigning Super Bowl champions have had some issues this season. They sit at 3-5 with an offense that has scored less than 20 points a game in four of the last five games.

The team could miss Stafford this week if he’s not able to clear concussion protocols by Sunday's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Stafford's backup, John Wolford, made his only two career starts in the 2020 season, first against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 with Wolford going 22-for-38 with no touchdowns and one interception, and then against the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round, though he was knocked out of that game due to injury.

He saw the field in three games last season, passing just four times with one completion for 25 yards.

Bryce Perkins is the third quarterback on the depth chart and could also potentially see the field Sunday, though he hasn't played in a regular season game yet.