Matthew Stafford, the veteran quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, came back to practice this week. He’s taking some tentative steps with an eye toward his back being a lot less cranky. The 37-year-old has been sidelined due to an aggravated disk in his back, which has raised concerns about his availability for upcoming games.
Stafford’s unavailability at practice this past week came as a shock to everybody, including head coach Sean McVay, who had originally believed he would be practicing. Despite tossing passes during a workout two weeks ago, Stafford has yet to practice with the team since that date. That has left him with an unclear fate going forward as the Rams get ready to head into the regular season.
“His absence wasn’t anything specifically related to [Stafford’s] back,” McVay stated, emphasizing the team’s cautious stance. The coach found this to be widespread among his players. They’re going to great lengths to keep Stafford healthy.
The Los Angeles Rams tweeted the official news saying that Stafford had not practiced on August 18, 2025. McVay again confirmed that had it been the regular season, Stafford would’ve been ready to go and play. This directing move intrigue explains the team’s overall strategy of prioritizing player health instead of current return.
With Stafford’s status up in the air, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is calling for the Rams to start rookie QB Stetson Benson. If Stafford’s not coming back right away, maybe Bennett is the guy the team needs. This move seems indicative of the surging concern about Stafford’s health as the season draws near.
The Rams are doing a remarkable job of managing this situation. They remain dedicated to making sure Stafford’s recovery goes as well as can be expected, not hurrying him back to the field. Coach McVay’s careful handling of the quarterback’s injury illustrates the organization’s commitment to maintaining player health while preparing for competitive play.
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