LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford was among the 52,654 packed into Dodger Stadium on Monday for the 18-inning epic that was Game 3. But with an unavoidable engagement in the morning, the Rams quarterback left in the 10th inning. Ate dinner, drove home, got into his pajamas, laid down in bed and Freddie Freeman had still yet to hit his walkoff home run.
“I gave it my best effort,” Stafford said, “but I knew I was going to have to get up and get some kids ready for school the next day.”
Thus ended Stafford’s bye week, one spent chauffeuring for his daughters, attending their soccer games and even making a one-day escape with his wife.
And not taking hits from NFL pass rushers, something that can’t be taken for granted at the age of 37.
Stafford entered the Rams’ training camp in July with an aggravated disc in his back. He wasn’t able to practice until three weeks prior to the season opener as his timeline to return kept getting pushed back.
But after a 5-2 start to the season, Stafford has come out relatively unscathed. Sure, he’s been pressured 91 times and sacked 11. But he hasn’t had to miss a practice or leave a game, and hasn’t even had much in the way of scares that have required the training staff – or fanbase – to overanalyze his movements.
“I feel pretty good,” Stafford said. “Obviously I do a lot to try and make sure I stay feeling as good as I possibly can. So just daily maintenance and just trying to do everything I can to make sure I’m feeling as good as I possibly can. But coming off the bye, I feel pretty solid.”
And with that peace of mind, Stafford has put together one of his best seasons. He’s completed 66.1% of his passes for 1,866 yards, and is tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns with 17 while having thrown just two interceptions, and none in four games.
“I think you gotta go out and prove yourself every single week,” Stafford said. “I’m just trying to go out there and make as many good decisions as I possibly can. That’s both with where the football’s going, how I’m throwing it, all those kinds of things. Those are all the decisions you have to make on a certain play.”
Injury report
Rams receiver Puka Nacua (ankle) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) were limited participants in Wednesday’s practice. It was Nacua’s first practice since spraining his ankle against the Ravens in Week 6, and Havenstein’s first after missing the last three games with his ankle injury.
Nacua looked smooth on the field during the portion of practice open to media, with no apparent issues coming off the line or going into his breaks.
Head coach Sean McVay reiterated that he expects Nacua and Havenstein to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints (1-7).
Cornerback Darious Williams went through individual drills to test his shoulder injury, with McVay saying his status this week would be monitored.
The Rams placed wide receiver Tutu Atwell on injured reserve Monday after an MRI revealed he suffered a hamstring strain in the first quarter of the team’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars prior to the bye.
McVay said the expectation is that Atwell will miss the minimum four games required, then return in Week 13 for the team’s game at the Carolina Panthers.
“Whatever that fourth game would be, [VP of sports medicine Reggie Scott] was like, ‘Maybe you’ll get back for that.’ But this also just provides some clarity,” McVay said. “It’s also the first time that [Atwell has] ever dealt with a soft-tissue [injury] of this magnitude, so our expectation is that after the four games, he’ll end up being back.”
Trade deadline
New Rams cornerback Roger McCreary had his first practice with the team after being traded by the Tennessee Titans on Monday.
With the NFL’s trade deadline looming Tuesday, McVay said the Rams have not discussed another potential move.
“It’s not something that we’ve really talked about,” McVay said. “If certain opportunities arise that you feel like it gives you a chance to significantly upgrade your football team, but I feel really good about our group and the growth that I still think can be had from us in spite of doing some good things.”