Rams may have reached critical turning point in Matthew Stafford injury saga

The Los Angeles Rams have a bigger problem than Matthew Stafford’s back injury — the uncertainty that comes with it. It’s so well disguised that, no matter how seriously the team addresses it, they’re set up for criticism from the start. No matter how head coach Sean McVay frames it, second-guessers will have a field day.

The team had its share of supporters, including some highly regarded voices in sports media. ESPN NFL insider Peter Schrager was quick to weigh in when news of the 37-year-old's back injury first surfaced, reassuring fans that the team was confident in his recovery before the start of the season. At the time, that confidence was genuine.

The confidence wasn’t grounded in facts. Future projections are uncertain at best, and the approach felt more like positive thinking than scientific analysis. Back injuries are inherently complex. Now, just two weeks later, Schrager has shifted from no concern to genuine concern, as he admits on Get Up! at the 2:40 mark.

Confidence around Matthew Stafford's health is fading quickly

Things are going from bad to worse for the Horns. Stafford's back pain is giving everyone in LA's facility and their mother headaches.

No football activity caused the injury. His aggravated disc was already an issue when he reported to training camp, and it was re-aggravated not by contact, but during his first attempt to throw a football. Reportedly, he threw more than 60 passes in a controlled environment with team trainers and medical staff on hand.

To put it bluntly, he failed his first tolerance test. To suit up and play, and he’ll have to clear several of them before he gets back on the field. That initial failure, the inability to handle the strain of simply throwing a football, sets off the alarm. He hasn’t attempted another throw since, and if he does, there’s little reason to believe he’ll withstand it.

Is this the snowflake that caused the avalanche? Many fans are wondering if the future Hall of Famer will retire after this season... or sooner. The Rams have already lost two of their three pillars from the 2023 offseason refurbish: All-Pro DT Aaron Donald retired, and All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp was released. Now their 37-year-old quarterback is battling a stubborn back injury.

Professional football is a violent game, and Stafford has absorbed 16 seasons’ worth of punishment. Maybe there’s simply nothing left in the tank.

The team’s focus will likely shift from getting the veteran QB ready for Week 1 to making sure he’s fully healthy. Even half a season with Stafford under center is better than none at all. Nothing has changed, only that more people are beginning to realize what was clear all along. For now, the best approach is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

And as always, thanks for reading.

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