Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is ready to start what could be the final season of his career.
After dealing with a nagging back injury that required regular treatments, the veteran quarterback is healthy enough to start the season, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced on Monday.
Matthew Stafford Back on the Field
The Rams had not given a definitive answer on Stafford’s status as the preseason came to an end. The quarterback missed the majority of training camp and was limited in his return, leaving it unclear whether he would be ready to take the field for the team’s season opener.
McVay put an end to the drama on Monday, saying Stafford is on track to start. NFL Network reporter Taylor Bisciotti noted that McVay said he “expects Stafford to start against the Texans Sunday.”
Speaking to reporters earlier in August, McVay said Stafford looked good in his return to the field but could not say whether he would be ready to start in Week 1.
“I think that would be putting the cart way before the horse,” McVay told reporters. “I thought he did a good job today.”
Stafford said at the conclusion of the preseason that he was still going through treatments for his complicated back injury, pressing to be back on the field and not miss any time.
“Doing everything we can to try to get to feeling as good as I can,” Stafford said, via NFL.com. “… Just really everything I could possibly do. Done a ton of research just trying to help myself out. Good things is I feel pretty good the last couple of days out there practicing. Was able to do a little bit more than I thought I was going to be able to do the first day, and then just been trying to stack days.”
The Rams would have turned to backup Jimmy Garoppolo had Stafford not recovered in time to start the season.
Matthew Stafford Looking to End Career on Top
There had been speculation that Stafford could find a new NFL home, but ended up signing a two-year contract extension with the Rams to start the offseason. Though Stafford remains under contract through 2027, the Rams made it clear that they plan to take it one year at a time as Stafford decides whether to retire or return for another season.
After winning a Super Bowl in Stafford’s first season after being traded from Detroit in 2021, the Rams went through a rapid rebuild and are back in Super Bowl contention this year. Running back Kyren Williams said the team is ready to get behind Stafford as he aims for a second Super Bowl ring.
“Having Matthew back is just like, ‘Yeah, all right, we’re ready to roll,’ ” Williams said, via the Los Angeles Times.
Stafford had a simple message as well, saying he was grateful to put the injury woes behind him and get back on the field.
“I’m just happy I get to be back out there,” he said.
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