Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been out of training camp for the last few days due to back soreness. Head coach Sean McVay spoke to reporters at training camp and mentioned that Stafford will be week to week.
The quarterback’s injury itself isn’t a major concern, but the team should hope for the best but expect the worst and prepare for the future.
The Rams have Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett who can fill in if Stafford’s injury is more serious than initially thought. Or, Los Angeles could go another way and get Stafford’s replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pro Football Network released its latest 2026 three-round mock draft that sees the Rams select Stafford’s replacement.
“The Matthew Stafford era is coming to an end sooner rather than later, and it might make sense for the Rams to begin looking for their heir apparent at the position. This class boasts a ton of talent at the top of the draft, and the Rams strike while the iron is hot by selecting Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana,” Brently Weissman wrote for PFSN. “Mendoza didn’t do a ton at California last season, but he did flash some high-end NFL traits. He throws with touch, velocity, and can layer the football through tight windows. He makes very good decisions and plays with good instincts.”
Mendoza has played his first two collegiate seasons at Cal, throwing for 4,712 yards and 30 touchdown passes in the Pac-12 and ACC. In the mock draft, the Rams picked Fernando Mendoza with the 10th overall pick.
Panic Over Matthew Stafford Injury?
GettyLos Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
If the Rams were to lose Matthew Stafford for the 2025-26 season, it could cause panic about how the backups would perform.
The first option would be Jimmy G, who has been with the Rams the past two seasons and has familiarity with the system.
Rich Eisen was asked on his show about the Rams’ having to use Garoppolo as their starting QB next season.
“It’s an overreaction to talk about Jimmy G season right now,” Eisen said. “Talk to me if [Stafford] doesn’t even practice over the next 2-3 weeks.”
While it is too early to tell if Garoppolo will be behind center sometime this upcoming season, he was able to lead to a Super Bowl appearance in the past, showing he can keep up with Stafford.
Mendoza Comparison
GettyCal quarterback Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza is headed east to play football in the Big 10 conference in Bloomington, Indiana.
Analyst Todd McShay compares Mendoza to Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
“When this guy decides he’s going to see his reads through; I gave him a Jared Goff comp… I went through Goff, started writing up comparisons between the two. I literally gave the comp three hours later and went through my notes and said Goff went to Cal. … I think it’s a good comp, and it isn’t a Cal thing,” McShay said.
If the move to Indiana works out and he can put up similar numbers in the Big 10, Mendoza can cement himself as a top 10 overall pick in next year’s draft. And, he could be the second former Golden Bear quarterback to play under head coach Sean McVay in Los Angeles.
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