Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams finished out the 2025 NFL regular season with a 37-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, ending with a 12-5 record and the No. 5 seed in the NFL playoffs. Now, the Rams turn their attention to the Wild Card round, where they will head to Charlotte to take on Bryce Young and the No. 4 seed Carolina Panthers.
At age 37, Stafford had arguably the best season of his 17-year career. The former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback completed 388-of-597 passes for 4,707 yards, a league-high 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions. With his performance, Stafford has become the betting favorite to win his first NFL MVP, with New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye right behind him.
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But as the Rams look for their second Super Bowl win in five years, Stafford and the offense will be without a key piece once again.
Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson (69) and quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during an NFL gameMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After five seasons with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, Kevin Dotson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the No. 135 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The guard began his NFL career on the bench as a rookie but earned the Steelers’ starting left guard job in 2021, a role he held for two seasons.
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Dotson was traded to Los Angeles ahead of the 2023 season and became the team’s starting right guard in Week 4. After his first year with the Rams, he signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension and has remained with the team since. However, Dotson suffered an ankle sprain in Week 16 that sidelined him for the final two regular-season games.
Leading up to the Wild Card matchup against the Panthers, Dotson remained out of practice due to his injury. And on Thursday, the Rams officially ruled the guard out for a third-straight game, leaving Stafford without one of his top protectors yet again.
Along with Dotson, wide receiver Jordan Whittington (knee) has also been ruled out, while tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) are listed as questionable. However, star wide receiver Davante Adams, who has been sidelined with a hamstring issue since Week 16, is no longer on the injury report and is set to return this weekend.
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“Sean McVay said OL Kevin Dotson will be OUT for Saturday’s Wild Card game at Panthers, though Dotson is making good progress,” Rams senior staff writer Stu Jackson wrote on X.
Stafford and the Rams will face the Panthers on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.