The Los Angeles Rams are taking a cautious approach with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is dealing with back tightness and is “week-to-week,” per head coach Sean McVay. Despite McVay’s efforts to downplay the issue, there is some outside concern.
Stafford is 37 years old and has a significant injury history, including playing in nine games in 2022 following a spinal contusion.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan rated Stafford’s issue as “medium” on his “panic meter.”
“While it doesn’t sound too dire, until we see Stafford get back on the field and throwing for the Rams, our antennas should be raised a bit, particularly as back injuries can sometimes be tricky to project going forward,” Sullivan wrote on July 30.
Stafford started 16 games in 2024, only missing the regular season finale due to rest for the playoffs. He has started at least 15 games in three of his four seasons with the Rams.
However, the lone exception is reason enough to cause concern about Stafford and the Rams.
Stafford missed seven games in 2022, when the Rams shut him down due to a spinal contusion that caused numbness in his legs after dealing with an elbow injury during the preceding offseason that also limited his work preparing for the campaign.
Rams HC Sean McVay Following Ominous Pattern With Matthew Stafford
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks with quarterback Matthew Stafford during organized team activities.
McVay initially revealed Stafford was dealing with the soreness, saying the two-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl champion would miss the first block of training camp practices, which equated to five sessions.
“Matthew’s feeling good. He had a little bit of soreness in his back that kind of crept up,” McVay told reporters on July 22. “He’s been throwing. Feeling good. It’s not anything that’s necessarily new; something that he’s dealt with before. Going into Year 17, we’re gonna take a modified approach with him. Kind of similar to what we did in the offseason program. And so, we’ll allow him to just work kind of off to the side on his own, get himself feeling as good as possible. And then, he’ll be ready for Block 2.
“He feels good about that. I feel good about that. And, ultimately, it’s about having him feel as good as possible, mentally, physically, emotionally, going into Year 17.”
Just four days later, though, McVay admitted he got ahead of himself about Stafford’s outlook.
“Little update on Matthew: he’s doing really well,” McVay told reporters on July 26. “We’ve got a good plan in place. We are going to still take some more time with him, though. Nothing that’s changed, in terms of a setback. I probably spoke a little bit too soon, but the ultimate goal is Houston, and being mindful of that. So, we’ll take it a week at a time with him.”
Stafford was already unlikely to play in any of the Rams’ preseason games. He has not played in the preseason since 2019 while still with the Detroit Lions. Still, not having Stafford on the practice field is detrimental to the Rams.
Rams’ QB Situation Remains Source of Intrigue
GettyArch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns reacts against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Stafford and the Rams left the door open for a trade this offseason before ultimately agreeing on a two-year, $80 million revision of his contract. This latest setback certainly brings that decision back into the spotlight.
It also thrusts Stafford’s backup Jimmy Garoppolo (and to a lesser extent, Stetson Bennett IV and Dresser Winn) into the spotlight.
More significantly, though, it brings the Rams’ future at quarterback into question.
With two first-round picks thanks to the Atlanta Falcons, they have been linked to QBs in the 2026 draft, and have ties to Texas star and presumed No. 1 pick Arch Manning. Moreover, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported in July that the Rams “covet” Manning.
With retirement a distinct possibility for Stafford regardless of the outcome in 2026, and his 2025 season threatened by this back injury, the Rams’ plans at quarterback remain intriguing.
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