CARSON — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will test the aggravated disc in his back again Saturday, doing another workout at the Rams training facility, head coach Sean McVay said following Thursday’s joint practice with the Saints.
Stafford, who has not been on the sidelines for any of the Rams’ four practices this week, will go through a similar routine as the workout he did last Saturday. That session included upwards of 60 reps of static throwing to different areas of the field.
Though the Rams felt positive about how that workout went, Stafford was in enough discomfort Monday that his expected return to practice was canceled.
“Hopefully it responds a little bit better,” McVay said. “I’ll have more information for you guys then.”
Stafford, 37, began to feel the effects of the aggravated disc shortly after minicamp in June. He has not done any on-field work with the team during training camp, even during jog-through periods.
Asked Thursday whether Stafford was unable to practice due to pain tolerance or functional issues with his back, McVay said, “I think probably a little bit of both. But we’re trying to get our hands around this as well. So I don’t really have much more information other than I think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field. And I’ll have updates for you as we go.”
Garoppolo ‘up and down’
After a strong showing last week against the Cowboys, backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had an inconsistent day against the Saints. He had moments where he held onto the ball too long or threw the ball too early in a receiver’s route.
McVay described Garoppolo’s day as “up and down.” He felt like the Saints’ pass rush affected him early in the practice, but that the quarterback picked things up once the Rams reached the second- and third-down sections of practice and two-minute drills.
“One of my favorite things about Jimmy is, if something doesn’t go down the way we want it or we have a little bit of a miscommunication, he’s great about being able to reset and be able to respond and not react to whatever that next snap is,” McVay said. “And I thought he did that today.”
Davis shines
The entire Rams defensive front had a very good day Thursday. Jared Verse and Byron Young exploded past tackles on the edge. Braden Fiske got frequent penetration up the middle. He and Young teamed up for a strip of running back Alvin Kamara that safety Kam Kinchens recovered. Rookie Josaiah Stewart used his speed and a nice rip-through move to get a couple of pressures.
But the true standout Thursday was second-year defensive tackle Tyler Davis. On the second play of the practice, he blew past his blocker and blew up the passing play in the backfield. He also made stops in the run game and beat a double team for a pressure.
A 2024 sixth-round draft pick out of Clemson, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Davis has had a strong camp and appears poised to play an expanded role in his second season.
Vroom vroom
On the offensive side of the ball, rookie running back Jarquez Hunter’s breakaway speed was apparent against the Saints. There were at least three instances on inside runs in which Hunter got to the second and third levels of the defense and, seeing green grass in front of him, hit a different speed, pulling away from the defense with ease.
Slight dustup
McVay and Saints linebacker Demario Davis exchanged words after the coach took exception to running back Kyren Williams being tackled to the ground in a practice that was agreed to be wrap-up instead of full contact. Guard Steve Avila tried to steer McVay away from Davis, but the coach walked to the Saints sideline to speak with the veteran linebacker.
“Guys are just playing hard. It wasn’t anything malicious, but when you get a guy kind of in that position and you’re getting rolled up on, we just want to avoid that foot traffic,” McVay said. “We got it under control and I got a lot of respect for those guys and we did a good job of being able to move forward.”
Forbes returns
Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (hamstring) returned to practice for the first time in two weeks. He was limited to about 50% of snaps in the two-hour practice.