The Los Angeles Rams and their fans took a collective sigh of relief Thursday after their star quarterback Matthew Stafford was able to be a full participant in joint practice against the Houston Texans. Stafford had been out most of last week with hamstring tightness sustained during joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, but the veteran signal caller returned to Rams practice Tuesday, and with no setbacks, was allowed to rejoin his team on the field against Houston.
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“It was a full day for him,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said post-practice. “It was good. We prefer him not to have to hand off backwards on a couple of those. But because of the progression, he wanted to get the work in, and and I thought really their (Texans) overall etiquette in terms of staying away from him was really good. And I was pleased with the way that our line competed.”
McVay spoke about Stafford’s injury earlier in the week, reassuring the public that Stafford’s hamstring tightness was not something major that could force him out for the start of the season.
“I’m not concerned,” McVay said. “I’m not. Do you want him to be able to get the work? Of course, but I’m not concerned based on what I understand the tightness is and erring on the safe side of caution for this week, if that’s what we end up having to do.”
Anytime you are dealing with a soft tissue injury there is call for concern. Cooper Kupp unfortunately was a perfect example of this in 2023. While the receiver was able to play in 13 games last season, counting their NFC Wild Card appearance, the 2021 triple crown winner looked like a shell of himself most of the year as he dealt with a nagging hamstring injury sustained in training camp. Luckily, Stafford’s injury sounds far less serious than Kupp’s, as the wide receiver was forced to miss the remainder of training camp at the time, and the first four games of last season with his.
Stafford wasn’t the only good news on the injury front for LA today, as McVay confirmed that LG Jonah Jackson should also be back in practice next week. Los Angeles’ prized offseason acquisition has only been able to take part in individual drills with a shoulder injury keeping him sidelined. The Rams head coach also mentioned that starting CB Darious Williams should begin working back into the lineup next week as well.
The Rams look to be regaining some healthy players at just the right time, especially considering that next week is a preseason bye. With roughly only two weeks until a Week 1 Sunday night showdown in Detroit, any extra reinforcements to LA’s roster are welcomed.
