The Los Angeles Rams breathed a collective sigh of relief this week with two-time Pro Bowler and 2022 Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford returning to practice. Stafford spoke publicly for the first time since, and his comments made headlines.
The 16-year veteran left plenty open for speculation as he continues to get himself into regular-season form.
Encouragingly for the Rams, Stafford exceeded his early expectations for himself.
“I’m not going to talk too much specifics or anything like that. But as far as what I’ve done, everything under the sun, I feel like. Obviously, our guys here have a great program. Doing everything we can to try and get to feeling as good as I can. I’ve done that and just really everything I could possibly do. Done a ton of research, just trying to help myself out. And good thing is, I feel pretty good last couple days out there practicing. Was able to do even a little bit more than I thought I was going to be able to do the first day,” Stafford said on August 21.
“Just been trying to stack days. Backs are, sometimes, interesting things. It’s not cut and dry, what’s what, and how you’re going to feel. So, I really appreciate our team and our head coach and everybody taking a day-to-day approach with me, doing everything they can to try and help me out. And I have, obviously, a ton of – a huge feeling of responsibility to our team to do what’s right by them, and I’m trying to do that as best I can day in and day out.”
Stafford spoke about the mental challenges (he is in a “good place”) and shaking off the rust after missing so much time. He also touted backups Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett’s work in practice and the Rams’ preseason games, respectively.
Sean McVay Sees ‘No Restrictions’ With Matthew Stafford in Rams Practices
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford #9 react on the sidelines against the Dallas Cowboys.
Stafford explained that the injury “just kind of crept up on” him while he was training, but that it was not the result of one particular thing. Stafford, and for that matter, Rams head coach Sean McVay, continuously stressed the QB’s situation is a “day-to-day” matter.
However, McVay did offer an encouraging update about Stafford’s limitations in practice.
“From what I see, there’s no restrictions, and he’s playing at a really high level,” McVay told reporters on Thursday.
“It gives me a lot of confidence. And again, what I want to make sure that I’m at least acknowledging is that I am very excited and optimistic, but I’m not a doctor. I don’t know how some of these things [go], and you just continue to pray that, hey, he’s – I know he’s doing everything that he can to take great care of himself, feel as good as possible.”
“He’s doing a lot of things behind the scenes with [vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott] and his group,” McVay said, noting Stafford participated in consecutive sessions. “I know that he wants to be out there and be able to feel the way that he’s felt as much as anybody. He’s doing the work, and I know his teammates are happy to be able to have him back out there. And so, that makes us all feel good.”
That is even better news than Stafford returning to practice for the Rams. His injury threatened to throw their season into disarray. The Rams have hopes of contending for a deep playoff run and, possibly, even a Super Bowl berth in 2025.
Matthew Stafford Non-Committal About Season Opener vs. Texans
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on against the Dallas Cowboys.
If there is anything for the Rams to have concern over, it is that Stafford remained non-committal about his availability for the regular-season opener, at home against the Houston Texans.
Stafford was even asked directly.
“I’m not going to answer questions like that,” Stafford said. “I just told you it was probably a day-to-day thing. So, I’m just doing everything I can to try to be out there for the next practice. Put the next good day of practice together, and we’ll go from there.”
Bennett and, even more, Garoppolo’s strong performances in their respective phases could once again be a story during the season. That is, if the Rams are faced with Stafford’s injury again.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Rams QB Matthew Stafford Breaks Silence After Season-Altering News appeared first on Heavy Sports.