Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed that quarterback Matthew Stafford is currently considered week-to-week with a back injury as training camp gets underway. The team aims to have Stafford ready for the start of the 2025 regular season.
McVay shared with reporters on Tuesday that Stafford will have limited participation early in camp due to soreness in his back, a condition the veteran signal-caller has managed previously.
Details on Stafford’s Condition and Recovery Plan
According to McVay, Stafford experienced some back soreness that developed gradually.
“He had a little bit of soreness in his back that kind of crept up,”
McVay said, as reported by Stu Jackson of the Rams’ official site.
“He’s been throwing, feeling good. It’s not anything that’s necessarily new, something that he’s dealt with before. Going into Year 17, we were going to take a modified approach with him, kind of similar to what we did in the offseason program.”
Stafford did not participate at the very start of training camp but was expected to join the team’s first padded practice on Monday. However, McVay’s updated remarks suggest a cautious approach to ensure Stafford does not exacerbate his injury with the regular season more than a month away.
Stafford’s Recent Playing History and Team Impact
At 37 years old, Stafford missed the final seven games of the 2022 season due to a spinal cord contusion but has otherwise been relatively durable, appearing in 31 of 34 games over the past two years. In the 2024 season, he played 16 games and only missed Week 18 against the Seattle Seahawks to rest, as the Rams had already secured the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/nfc/”>NFC West division title.
Should Stafford remain sidelined, veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to continue leading the Rams’ starting offense during practices and potentially in early season games if necessary.
Implications of Stafford’s Injury for the Rams
The Rams’ careful management of Stafford’s back injury underscores their priority in preserving the quarterback’s health ahead of the season opener. Given his history and importance to the team, the cautious strategy aims to avoid setbacks that could impact team performance later in the season.
Monitoring Stafford’s progress over the coming weeks will be critical as the Rams finalize their roster and prepare their offensive game plan. Stafford’s availability and condition will likely remain a key storyline as the 2025 season approaches.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Matthew Stafford have brain surgery?
A. KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, has set a new NFL record. During the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders, he hit 30,000 career passing yards. Mahomes reached this milestone in only 103 games, surpassing Matthew Stafford’s old record of 109 games.
Q. Does Matthew Stafford have a photographic memory?
A. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford remembers almost every play from his nearly 10,000 snaps in the NFL. He can recall defensive setups, the passes he made, and the different game situations. This information is strongly imprinted in his mind.