Matthew Stafford back pain forces Rams to test QB depth early in training camp

The Los Angeles Rams understand the extents and limits that come with building an offense around veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. And with a 37-year-old wily quarterback, Rams fans have come to accept the bad with the good. The thing is, nobody expected the bad to rear its ugly head before the Rams get training camp underway.

Yet, here we are. As many Rams fans can attest, after hitting 30 years old, the body tends to develop minor aches and pains that are new and unfamiliar. And sometimes, those tweaks can be more than a little bothersome. That seems to be the case for Stafford, as he reported to camp with a nagging bit of back pain, which was reported by Rams HC Sean McVay.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford had some “back soreness that kind of crept up” in the offseason, so he will be working on the side to start training camp, Rams coach Sean McVay says. He’s only expected to miss the first few practices.

— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) July 22, 2025

The expectation is that Stafford will be assigned alternate duties for the first five days of training camp as a precautionary measure.

No, the sky is not falling. Nor is this a sign that the Rams face a perilous season due to Stafford's lack of durability. For now, it's merely a twinge to remind everyone that Stafford is no longer playing in his prime. But there are benefits to this early training camp hiccup.

For openers, the workload merely shifts to the other quarterback. That means veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will work with the starters, while Stetson Bennett will work with the second string. And just signed QB Dresser Winn work work with all others. That benefits the overall roster, as Stafford is so attuned to the Rams offense that missing a week's worth of work won't hurt.

On the other hand, this mishap reinforces the strategy of the Rams quarterback room, as everyone on the roster knows exactly what their new roles will become.

The offense is not just redoing 2024. This is a season for innovations, risk-taking, and an entirely new set of chapters for the offensive playbook. The Rams front office has reloaded the team admirably.

Now, it's up to the Rams coaching staff to ensure this offense optimizes the robust talent. As always, thanks for reading.