The Los Angeles Rams seemed optimistic last weekend during the preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys that they would soon have their starting quarterback back on the practice field. Matthew Stafford went through a workout in which he threw 60 passes and looked good. As head coach Sean McVay said during the broadcast and to reporters after the game,
“There was no limitations in terms of the types of throws — deep, intermediate, short. We were moving the launch point and, you know, he felt really good, and so we’re looking forward to progressing him back into practice on Monday. But it was a good step in the right direction.”
Then came Monday and Stafford didn’t dress for practice with the team noting that Stafford, “didn’t feel good this morning.” When it comes to their preseason approach, the Rams tend to value joint practices. After missing the joint practice with the Cowboys, Stafford once again wasn’t available for the joint practice against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday.
According to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, Stafford is set to go through a similar workout on Saturday prior to the team’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Rams will hope his back responds a little better.
However, as Stafford prepares for another workout on Saturday and the Rams reportedly remain confident in his status for Week 1, their tone has shifted. As TurfShow Times’ Kenneth Arthur wrote this week, the Rams messaging has consistently changed through Stafford’s injury. While it is a fluid situation, it is also another example of the Rams not being up-front about injuries.
The Rams have gone from, “he should be good to go in a couple of days” to saying he would be week-to-week to “everything is in good shape” to “you’ll see him in practice next week” and now we have the latest iteration. Said McVay on Thursday,
We’re trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don’t really have much more information other than think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field.
This is a team that is starting to sound a lot less confident than they did even a week ago when McVay is painting the picture as something “we’re trying to get our hands around this as well.”
Following Saturday’s upcoming workout, the key will be to see how Stafford responds. At the very least, the Rams may be able to figure out some treatment options that help Stafford the most leading up to Week 1. While the Rams may still be confident about the Week 1, the concerns remain everything that happens after that.
