Stafford looking to start, despite having back issues

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford started out his press conference after Thursday’s practice with a lighthearted joke.

“You guys don't want to talk about this paper cut I got last night opening some mail?” he said.

However, this upcoming season for the Rams and Stafford’s ‘real’ back injury is anything but amusing.Stafford started the 2025 season in May, practicing for Organized Team Activities (OTAs). However, after minicamp from June 16th to June 19th in Hawaii, he never saw the playing field during training camp due to an aggravated disc in his back.

“I was training and you know just it wasn't like one thing where I knew, you know, right away just kind of something that crept up on me a little bit.” said Stafford of the injury

Stafford’s back issues led the way for Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to lead the charge during training camp.“I thought Jimmy did a hell of a job and you know, appreciate the hell out of him,” said Stafford. He continued, “It was actually awesome to watch Jimmy do his thing, and honestly, Stetson got a million reps in camp and so from a team standpoint man, we got a lot of guys some experience.”

During camp, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett and Dresser Winn worked with teammates on the practice field as Stafford worked with trainers and rehabbed behind the scenes, trying to get back as soon as possible “As far as what I've done, everything under the sun. I feel like obviously our guys here have a great program doing anything we can to try and get to feeling as good as I can,” he said. He continued, “I’ve done a ton of research just trying to help myself out, and good thing is I feel pretty good the last couple days out there.”

The time off the practice field and working with trainers proved fruitful as Stafford stepped back on the gridiron on Monday after almost a month of being away from the game.

“The first day I wasn't expecting to do as much as I did and I felt pretty good so I just kind of kept going and coach was cool enough to you know let me kind of push myself and he knows that I know myself and how I feel and so he let me kind of go and you know it felt like I hadn't been out there in a while”  

Today’s practice was Stafford’s third in a row, and he said that he felt good. He stated, “It's my third day in a row, our third practice out of a four-day block, and I definitely felt a whole lot more like myself out there today and just want to continue to do everything I possibly can to be ready for the guys in the locker room.”

Head Coach Sean McVay also sang Stafford’s praises on a job well done at practice.

“He looks like the stud that we know,” McVey said. “From what I see, there’s no restrictions, and he is playing at a really high level.” he continued.

Stafford said he is taking it day by day and hopes are high that he is able to play in the home season opener on Sunday, September 7th, against the Houston Texans.

According to McVey, Stafford and select veterans will not be traveling to Cleveland for the team’s last pre-season game this Saturday, August 23rd against the Cleveland Browns but that game will help determine several spots on the 53-man roster that are still up for grabs.

“We have a good idea of what a handful of things look like just based on how we approached the pre-season, but I think Cleveland provides a good opportunity to continue to evaluate guys,” he said. He continued, “I’m looking forward to watching a handful of guys compete because there’s still some spots to be determined.”

All 32 teams must have their roster’s cut down to 53 players by Tuesday, August 27th at 4pm ET.