Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is getting healthy just in time to start what could likely be his final season in the NFL.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback has undergone treatment for a nagging back injury throughout the summer, forcing him to miss a long stretch of training camp and the preseason. The Rams have hope that Stafford will be back to full health in time for next week’s season opener, and are issuing a warning to the league about how the Super Bowl champion wants to conclude his NFL career.
Rams Looking to Jump Back into Super Bowl Contention
The trade that shipped Stafford from Detroit to Los Angeles was a boon for both teams. The Rams won the Super Bowl in his first season there, while the Lions saw Jared Goff bloom from an inconsistent but talented quarterback into a franchise signal-caller who is ranked among the top 10 in the league.
Stafford returned to the Rams on a two-year contract after some speculation that he could leave or retire, though the team made it clear that they are taking it one season at a time as Stafford decides just when to end his career. While it remains to be seen whether the end will come at the conclusion of this season or next, it’s clear that retirement is on the near horizon for the former Lions quarterback.
With the season opener just days away, Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur issued a warning to the rest of the NFL about Stafford’s upcoming season.
âThereâs unfinished business for him,â LaFleur said, via the Los Angeles Times.
The Rams added All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, who said he is hoping to help put the team over the hump in a competitive conference. Rams head coach Sean McVay believes he and Stafford will click well on the field and giving problems to opposing defenses.
âHe can win inside, he can win outside, heâs so smart, and he and Matthew really see the game through a similar lens,â said head coach Sean McVay.
Lions Trying to Reap Benefits of Matthew Stafford Trade
While the Rams saw an immediate reward from the Stafford trade, the Lions are hoping they will see it this season. The team has built one of the league’s top offenses around Goff, winning the NFC North for two seasons in a row.
After the Lions secured the No. 1 overall seed and a first-round bye last season, they fell flat in a loss to the Washington Commanders. Despite the abrupt exit, head coach Dan Campbell said he believes the team’s Super Bowl window remains wide open.
“I know the guys, [the loss] eats away at [them],” Campbell said, via ESPN. “I know the right guys — they’re our guys for a reason and that’s what will always give me hope and let me know we’re only going to be better.
“We’re going to come back stronger, we’re going to learn from this, and it’s just more fuel on the fire, is what it is.”
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