The Los Angeles Rams got some excellent news Monday. After weeks of uncertain injury updates, quarterback Matthew Stafford finally returned to practice.
The Rams got out in front of the news, immediately tweeting out a picture of Stafford taking the field in a red practice jersey.
Stafford did take part in team drills, per ESPN’s Sarah Bishop, a strong sign he’s feeling good after missing time early in camp.
Advertisement
The news should come as a welcome surprise for Rams fans, who have been given murky updates about the quarterback’s back injury throughout training camp. After Stafford missed time early, the team said he was dealing with an aggravated disc in his back. Stafford reportedly received an epidural to try and solve the issue.
It appeared the situation was close to resolving last week, even reaching a point where McVay said Stafford would appear at practice for the next part of his recovery. That didn’t happen, prompting more questions about Stafford’s status. McVay seemed less certain about Stafford’s status, leading to some to wonder if the issue was more serious than initially reported.
That no longer appears to be the case following Stafford’s return to the field Monday. While the return seems to indicate Stafford will be ready to go in Week 1, it will be worth monitoring what McVay and Stafford have to say about the injury after practice Monday.
As long as Stafford does not experience any setbacks, he’ll have almost three weeks to re-acclimate to the game before the Rams take on the Houston Texans in Week 1.
Advertisement
Despite his age, the 37-year-old Stafford remains one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Last season, Stafford threw for 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions while leading the Rams to a 10-6 record. Those figures could be even better this season after the team added Davante Adams in free agency. Adams and Puka Nacua are expected to be one of the better receiving duos in the NFL during the 2025 season.
If Stafford needs to miss time this season, he’ll likely be replaced by former Las Vegas Raiders starter Jimmy Garoppolo under center. When Stafford was sidelined during camp, the Rams announced Garoppolo would not take part in the preseason, a sign he’ll be the team’s No. 2 when the regular season opens.
