“I think the fair answer is, I’m going to take it a day at a time as well,” Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay answered on Monday, Aug. 11 when asked if he was concerned about Stafford’s back ailment. “I can’t be 27 days from now in Houston.”
It’s fair to raise an eyebrow about Stafford’s aggravated disk in his back that’s caused him to miss training camp. The veteran quarterback was supposed to practice in some capacity on Monday after a throwing session on Saturday, but he didn’t “feel great” following the workout.
“I feel for Matthew because of how much he wants to be out there and feel good. Ultimately what ended up happening, had a great workout, felt good, but then come in (Monday), it doesn’t feel great. (I) didn’t think that was the right decision to be able to push him,” McVay said. “We’re going to be smart, but he didn’t feel good enough and we didn’t think it was the right thing to do based on how he woke up feeling today.”
The Rams are “smart” to be cautious with Stafford. He’s a 37-year-old quarterback entering NFL season No. 17. He’s in the fifth year of McVay’s offense and knows the scheme. The Rams have more than three weeks until their 2025 season opener at SoFi Stadium against the Houston Texans.
Twenty-plus days out, it’s not time to be overly concerned. However, the concern meter rises incrementally each passing day Stafford is out of practice. Stafford is missing valuable practice reps with new addition wideout Davante Adams. Plus, there’s natural rust the veteran quarterback will have to work through when he does return.
How many practice reps will Stafford have before Sept. 7? Will Stafford be able to shake off any rust from his absence before it’s time for the real action? Two of the Rams’ first three games are against playoff teams from a season ago, including the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The positive news is the Rams have shown the capability to rebound from a shaky start. They began the 2024 season 1-4 before rallying to win the NFC West title. The bad news is Stafford’s a 37-year-old quarterback with back issues. Stafford was sacked 28 times last year. He was hit 63 times, the most in his four seasons in Los Angeles. What happens when Stafford takes hits this season? Back issues tend to occasionally flare up for an athlete Stafford’s age.
The Rams are right to exercise caution. It’s not time to be concerned. But the situation can change quickly, especially with a veteran quarterback’s back.
“He looked damn good throwing the other day. Nobody’s tougher than him,” McVay said. “We also want to see if we can have him feeling as good as possible. That’s super important.”
