LOS ANGELES — Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is dealing with some soreness in his back, head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday as players reported to training camp at Loyola Marymount, with the expectation being that the quarterback will be limited for the first four days of practice.
Stafford plans on working on the sidelines during the first block of training camp practices, before presumptively returning to full participation during Monday’s practice. McVay added that the Rams expect Stafford to be ready for Week 1.
“He’s been throwing, feeling good. It’s not anything that’s necessarily new, something that he’s dealt with before,” McVay said. “He feels good about that [plan], I feel good about that and ultimately it’s about him feeling as good as possible mentally, physically, emotionally going into Year 17.”
Stafford, 37, has dealt with several back injuries during his 16-year career. He suffered two fractures to vertebrae in consecutive seasons with the Lions in 2018 and 2019. Then in 2022 with the Rams, he suffered a spinal cord contusion that ended his season.
But the last two years, Stafford has missed only one game due to injury, a thumb issue in 2023.
McVay said the plan entering camp was to take a modified approach to Stafford’s workload even before the back soreness became a factor. The plan was for the quarterback to rest once every four practices, with the hope of preserving his body for the regular season.
McVay said Tuesday, because of Stafford’s experience level, he’s not worried about his starter missing practice time.
“I think the important thing is is having a big-picture perspective with a guy going into Year 17 based on this being something that he’s had before and dealt with during different parts of his career,” McVay said. “He’s so in tune with his body and talking with him, I feel really good. And I think that’s why you want to be as careful and cautious as possible, because of the importance of him feeling good. And these are things that I don’t believe it’s going to affect his ability to be ready to roll. We’ve got a lot of time.”