Sean McVay finally shares concerning details on Matthew Stafford's injury

The last thing that fans of the Los Angeles Rams wanted to face as training camp opened was a growing list of injuries to key players, but that list already includes four players, and that was before the pads went on. Fortunately, none of the injuries is serious enough to be viewed as season-ending. But the injuries include starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, rookie inside linebacker Pooh Paul Jr., and even starting quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Rams reported that the team has been working to make things right for Stafford after he reported to training camp with back soreness. While we have all had days with a stiff and sore back, the Rams began with taking a precautionary plan that would give the starting quarterback five days of alternate preparation to suit up Stafford with his teammates in pads to get quality time together.

But in an ironic twist, when fans were prepared to see Matthew Stafford in pads leading the offense, he was nowhere to be found. Stafford's status was updated to 'week to week,' and fans were reassured that this was not a downgrade. But while the status of the team may be that Stafford's diagnosis was not considered more severe, fans' perceptions were dealt a serious setback. The starting quarterback started training camp with the expectation that all was well.

Now, fans must wrestle over the possibility that Matthew Stafford may not be ready for a Week 1 start against the Houston Texans.

The devil's in the details

Rams HC Sean McVay provided a detailed update on Matthew Stafford's injury recently, and here is what he had to say when asked to "Give us the latest on Matthew Stafford, please?" at the 1:55 mark of the video:

"Yeah, he (Matthew Stafford is doing good. We are going to give him, we are going to be week to week with him. I think when you look at it, the end goal is September 7th, when we open up against the Houston Texans.

He is going into Year 17. We were going to take a modified approach. He has had some soreness in his back. When you look at it, he feels really good about a plan (from Rams Senior VP of Sports Medicine and Performance), Reggie Scott, and (Spine Specialist) Dr. (Scott) Watkins, (an orthopedic spine specialist). What is going to be the best plan of attack for the longevity of the season?

And rushing him back, where he could potentially have an unnecessary setback, that just does not make sense. We (The Rams) are fortunate to have the luxury of a player like him, that you do not minimize the importance of practices, but this is the best thing for him and for our football team.

In the meantime, Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett are getting invaluable reps that they wouldn't get otherwise.

So we have a choice in terms of how we handle it, and we are always going to do what we think is best, number one for the player and then for our team, and that is checking all those boxes."

Rams HC Sean McVay

So, what can we unpack from this response? Well, Coach McVay's response is not alarming in itself. But there are two facts that need to be added to this information. Dr Robert G Watkins IV is the Director of the Marina Spine Center, past Chief of Staff of Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, and current spine surgeon for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rams, Lakers, Clippers, and Kings. When it comes to back pain and treatment, he is the go-to for all Los Angeles professional sports teams.

And then there is the pattern of injuries that have afflicted Matthew Stafford since leading the team to victory in Super Bowl LVI. Since then, Stafford has suffered:

• A bruised spinal column in 2022
• An injured thumb on his throwing hand in 2023
• Rib injuries in 2024
• Back pain in 2025

The Rams are wise to take a very slow and cautious approach to Matthew Stafford in 2025. However, this also illustrates why negotiations between the team and Stafford are so complex. Stafford competes in a violent sport, and he is showing signs of wearing down. The Rams love Stafford, but have to be wise to the need for adequate depth at the position.

Consulting with a specialist is standard with these types of injuries. But the entire care plan that has expanded from day to more than a month suggests that it's not as simple as fans originally hoped. Even as some fans may pooh-pooh concerns, others will pivot from none to a significant level of concern. The fascinating aspect is that both responses are warranted.

There are huge questions surrounding the health and durability of the team's starting quarterback. And now all we can do is wait. Time, it seems, is the only path to health for Matthew Stafford right now.

As always, thanks for reading.

You are sure to find enjoyable Matthew Stafford articles among these