NFL analyst quietly raises red flag about Rams’ Matthew Stafford situation

You may have heard plenty about the status and growing concerns about Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. And perhaps you have decided that it's all much ado about nothing. You know, you could be correct. But there are contributing factors that push back against the urge to blow off this situation.

One undeniable fact is that the veteran QB continues to compete in the NFL despite the ripe old age of 37. He is entering his 17th NFL season. While modern-day NFL fans have come to expect longevity from veteran quarterbacks of late, thanks to Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers, they are the exception rather than the rule.

Related: Matthew Stafford's progress takes big step but Rams fans aren’t exhaling yet

Another fact is the increasing frequency of Stafford injuries of late. They include:

• A bruised spinal column in 2022
• An injured thumb on his throwing hand in 2023
• Rib injuries in 2024 (which became public knowledge after the fact)
• Back pain in 2025*

Stafford has consulted with back surgeon Dr. Robert G. Watkins twice so far. Watkins is one of the nation's top orthopaedic spine surgeons, and his expertise would only be necessary if there were serious considerations to be addressed that rise above a sore back. No, the sky is not falling. No, the Rams' season is not suddenly lost.

Even NFL Insider Adam Schefter weighs in to state that the 37-year-old could start right now if there were an imminent NFL game on the schedule.

Everyone is weighing in. Everyone has a different spin. But which opinion is correct?

NFL analyst paints brutal Matthew Stafford-less picture for Rams

Could Stafford suit up and start right now if this were the regular season? Perhaps, but would anyone want him to? Over his last five games of 2024, Stafford completed 83 of 132 passes (a 62.8 percent completion rate) for 962 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. On a per-game basis, that works out to 192.4 gross passing yards per game.

Stafford sat out Week 18 and watched as backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo lit up the skies with 334 passing yards on a 65.9 percent completion rate. Garoppolo put up the most passing yards by a Rams QB last season. That may not matter to fans. But it matters to NFL analysts who specialize in Fantasy Football.

And one such NFL analyst who specializes in Fantasy Football topics, Dave Kluge, is trying 'not to be an alarmist,' but is sounding the alarm on QB Matthew Stafford. Not on Stafford alone, but on the Fantasy Football value of Rams wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams as well. He argues that the Rams could be facing a 2025 NFL season with Jimmy G as the starting quarterback.

There is always a trade-off when NFL teams decide who to start. But it's not just who to start when everyone is at full health. Right now, Garoppolo is 100 percent healthy. But Stafford is only a fraction of full health. And with each new day of non-football-related activities, his capabilities to lead the team in a game diminish.

Right now, the high-end backup is starting due to concerns about taking it very slowly with Stafford. But if the team had a regular-season game scheduled for this weekend, could Stafford be the starter? I'm not so sure.

Stafford hasn't put on the pads yet. He did not participate in one practice at training camp. He did not participate in the joint practice or scrimmage with the Dallas Cowboys. With the first regular-season game one month away, can Stafford ramp up to game speed that quickly?

If the answer is yes, at what point do the Rams realistically assess Jimmy G to be the best option to start in Week 1? At some point, Stafford has to get off the treadmill and onto a football field. At some point, he must show the ability to run the offense, evade a pass rush, and connect with his receivers.

As revered and respected as Matthew Stafford is, he has not done any of those vital prerequisites for the Rams offense yet this season. At some point between now and that opening kickoff, the Rams may have an even tougher decision to make than who starts. The team may be forced to concede that Stafford will need to start the season on Injured Reserve for four weeks.

As always, thanks for reading.

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