Rams fans may want to brace for what Stafford’s absence is signaling

The Los Angeles Rams want veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy and rested for the entirety of the 2025 NFL season. And the team has gone to great lengths to ensure that they play it safe in terms of his recent back soreness. But the team shares only enough to squelch the questions, to ride one more wave of interest.

What the Rams say is one thing. What the Rams do about it is an entirely different matter altogether. For example, practices in training camp have relatively little value to a veteran quarterback like Stafford. But the Rams employ the strategy of using joint scrimmages with other NFL teams to ramp up the starters and key contributors for a new NFL season.

Unfortunately, Stafford will sit out the first joint scrimmage with the Dallas Cowboys. And there is no certainty that he will compete in the other joint scrimmage with the Los Angeles Chargers.

That creates many questions, even in the minds of the most optimistic Rams fans.

What the heck is going on with Matthew Stafford's injury?

If we all step back from Matthew Stafford's injury for a moment, what is the extent of our knowledge about the Rams' starting quarterback? We know that he is suffering from discomfort currently located in his back, which is not a diagnosis. It's a symptom. And if it were just a symptom, it would be treatable with the "take two aspirin and call me in the morning" advice.

This is not that. This is something that requires the care and oversight of an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in back surgery. Let that sink in for just a moment. Add to that the fact that Stafford has consulted with Dr. Robert G Watkins twice.

The Rams may be very cautious about their quarterback. But this is not a care plan that someone follows by waking up on the wrong side of the bed. This is a serious care plan that is only employed with serious injuries.

I'm not claiming that the sky is falling. I'm not even fearing a season without Stafford under center. I'm simply keeping one foot on the ground and accepting the scenario as facts present themselves.

Stafford is a veteran and knows the drill. But with an offense leaning on new strategies and unfamiliar players, can the team expect him to just slide in and shine? Stafford has not thrown the football to his teammates for months. And right now, he is trying to get 'right' in time for the Rams' Week 1 game against the Houston Texans on September 7, 2025.

That game is just over one month away, and so far, Stafford's workouts currently include light cardio, running on a treadmill, static throwing, and walking. That's physical therapy exercises, not the stuff that a quarterback does in preparing for a game.

Tick tock. Tick tock.

Jimmy Garoppolo can handle the offense if Stafford is forced to start the season on IR. And Stetson Bennett has an opportunity to prove to the coaches and fans that he is worthy of a backup quarterback role. But the Rams need Stafford to be fully healthy to have a chance of competing effectively in the NFL Playoffs.

And the communication and chemistry needed to excel in postseason games starts now.

Fans are left to fret about Matthew Stafford as the clock to his recovery keeps ticking. The team knows what it's doing, sure. But the fans are left guessing. And in the absence of information, speculation runs wild. In fact, it may already be happening.

SPECIAL UPDATE

NFL Insider Ian Rapoport shared a sobering update about Matthew Stafford this morning:

It you want to check out more details, you should check out our article about that news here. There is a lot to unpack here, and we will cover all the angles. The timing of the news is horrific, but somehow not the least bit surprising.

As always, thanks for reading.

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