LOS ANGELES — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will test his sore back with a workout on Saturday and, if all goes well, the veteran is expected to return to practice on Monday and ramp up ahead of the start of the season.
Head coach Sean McVay confirmed that Stafford has been dealing with an aggravated disc that required an epidural shot. But Stafford has progressed to the point that the team expects him to be back at practice next week, although he won’t take part in next Wednesday’s joint workout with the Chargers.
“Easing him back in and really being able to build him back up is the smart thing,” McVay said following Thursday’s practice. “What I do think is important is if this was in-season, he would be playing right now. We have taken a very cautious approach but if we were playing in a game this week, he would be playing.”
Saturday’s workout will be similar to activities such as static throwing that he has already done as he has rehabbed this back injury, which has kept him out of all of training camp. Stafford was originally expected to return to practice the second week of camp, but the team took a cautious approach with their starting quarterback.
“It’s going to be kind of in alignment with a little bit more of an increase but something that we feel really good about. This has kind of been the plan all along,” McVay said.
McVay said that Stafford felt some soreness following the Rams’ minicamp in Maui, which led to him getting the injury checked out and being diagnosed with an aggravated disc.
The coach said he was not sure if this is an injury that Stafford has dealt with previously in his 16-year career.
“As of right now, everything is on track to be able to get him a good month of work before we end up opening up against the Texans,” McVay said.
Stafford was one of many Rams for whom McVay needed to provide an injury update for on Thursday.
Back at the Rams’ training facility after two weeks at LMU, tight end Terrance Ferguson (groin), linebacker Nate Landman (calf) and cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (hamstring) were on the sidelines rehabbing during practice.
Meanwhile, right guard Kevin Dotson (chest contusion) and defensive tackle Poona Ford (sore groin) were riding stationary bikes after coming away sore from Tuesday’s joint practice with the Cowboys. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who dealt with a calf issue earlier in camp, was on the stationary bikes with them.
“There was a handful of guys that were kind of in that, we can push it, but they got a bunch of good work in that basically was trying to simulate a game for us,” McVay said. “Some of those guys we erred on the side of caution.
Outside linebacker Jared Verse also left practice early after banging knees with Braden Fiske during 11-on-11. Verse walked off the field with his arms around the shoulders of members of the training staff and left immediately for the medical rooms at the team facility.
“So we’ll hope that he ends up being ok off of that,” McVay said.