The Los Angeles Rams decided to extend Matthew Stafford to a two-year, $84 million deal this offseason with $80 million guaranteed. Stafford, the 37-year-old quarterback whom the Rams traded for ahead of the 2021 season, helped them to a Super Bowl LVI win and is consistently amongst the top offenses in the league. With an offensive mind like head coach Sean McVay’s, the match was perfect.
There seems to be some hiccups as the Rams are just weeks away from the start of the regular season. It was revealed that Stafford has an aggravated disc in his back, causing him to miss all of training camp up to this point. According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Stafford’s next step in his rehab was to return to practice on Monday, but that never came to be.
Monday’s practice was expected to be the next step in Stafford’s return from back soreness after he threw 68 passes at the Rams’ practice facility Saturday morning. On Sunday, coach Sean McVay said he expected Stafford to participate in individual drills the next day with the plan to “take it a day at a time” from there.
Stafford was at Rams practice on Monday, but was in street clothes. He would then be seen walking into an ‘Ammortal chamber,’ which helps with restoration and rejuvenation. It seems that the Rams are taking every precaution with Stafford due to his age and don’t want him missing valuable time in the regular season by rushing him back. Stafford went 10-6 as the Rams’ starter last season, throwing for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Los Angeles added Davante Adams this offseason after releasing Cooper Kupp and recently extended Kyren Williams.
In what’s supposed to be a big year for the Rams, their biggest X-factor’s status is up in the air.