4 major observations from Matthew Stafford’s Rams training camp (so far)

Observation III: Stafford is right where he wants to be

The LA Rams starting quarterback is not 100 percent healthy. But after 13 years of starting in the NFL at the quarterback position, that’s as good as it gets. During OTAs, Stafford was still in the recovery phase of a minor procedure to the elbow of his throwing arm, a procedure that included an anti-inflammatory injection into that joint, and required a brace to limit his range of motion of that elbow.

"“It’s coming along. I’m kind of right where I want to be and just continue to get it feeling better. Get it stronger. You just lose those reps through the offseason and [I’m] trying to gain some of those reps back at the moment.” – Matthew Stafford told reportersPer NBC Sports Mike Florio"

But there is more to it than that, and that is where LA Times beat reporter Gary Klein managed to  get the other side of that story:

"“He’s still feeling a little bit of pain. He could push through it. … We felt like the smart thing was let’s really just take it a week at a time. … The most important thing is for him feeling good and healthy on Sept. 8. We could certainly push, and he could really grind through this, but that’s not the goal with somebody like him. It’s not something that we’re concerned about, but we just want to be really smart with somebody as important as a quarterback is.”Rams HC Sean McVay per LA Times Gary Klein"

So the LA Rams have an invaluable starting quarterback on load management in training camp. That is . . . concerning.

Neither Stafford nor Coach McVay appears to be overly concerned over the matter.  Of course, if either expressed any concerns or unpleasant surprise over the current situation, you can bet that the entire NFL news media would be headlining that for days.

Stafford’s once-immobilized arm is not at full strength. That is why the team is cautiously working his arm, easing him into the mix at training camp.