The Los Angeles Rams are tiptoeing into the 2025 NFL season with their most important player on standby. Matthew Stafford, the veteran quarterback and Super Bowl champ, has yet to take a single rep in training camp, and the silence around his back injury is worrying fans. His official label is “week-to-week,” but in the high-stakes world of the NFL, that phrase is less a medical update and more a verbal tightrope Sean McVay is walking. It’s a familiar one for a coach known for his cautious, player-first approach.
The Backup Plan Is Now The Front Line
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The Rams’ preference for joint practices over preseason games makes Stafford’s absence particularly acute. The team’s concern is amplified by the fact that his back issues are not new, with previous episodes of soreness throughout his career. This isn’t a fresh injury, but a flare-up of a long-term problem.
After multiple visits to spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins IV, whose renowned patient list includes NFL legends like Peyton Manning and Rob Gronkowski, the team is doing everything in its power to manage the situation. Watkins’s philosophy prioritizes stability and long-term health, which suggests the Rams are not looking for a quick fix but a sustainable solution for their franchise quarterback, even if it means sacrificing crucial practice time.
The Tuesday joint session with the Dallas Cowboys is already a no-go, and the August 13 session with the Chargers remains in limbo. For a team that relies heavily on a handful of superstars, these practices are invaluable opportunities to build rhythm and chemistry between their quarterbacks and playmakers like Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
In Stafford’s stead, veteran Jimmy Garoppolo has been running first-team reps, and reports from camp paint a nuanced picture. On one hand, Garoppolo’s familiarity with Adams from their time in Las Vegas has paid off with some strong connections and deep completions. On the other hand, sources note that Garoppolo’s “bombs away” style sometimes misses its mark, a trait that makes him a more volatile choice than Stafford. The pressure is on for Garoppolo to prove that his performance can be more than a temporary Band-Aid.
Meanwhile, Stetson Bennett’s development is quietly becoming a major storyline. The former fourth-round pick is turning heads with the second-team offense. McVay, a coach who has been highly complimentary of Bennett’s progression, sees this as an invaluable opportunity for the young quarterback to gain confidence and reps. For Bennett, it’s a chance to show he is a viable long-term option, not just a developmental project.
The Stakes of a “Retooling” Phase
Stafford’s injury could define the team’s identity and an organization’s future. The Rams are in a transitional phase after a Super Bowl win, having made tough decisions like restructuring Stafford’s contract despite persistent rumors of a potential move.
This team is built around its high-end talent, but that talent can’t perform without the quarterback to unlock it. The front office is gambling that its core can compete with the NFC’s elite, but that entire strategy rests on Stafford’s ability to stay on the field.
They’ll keep smiling through interviews and touting the importance of depth, but until Stafford steps on the field, the subtext of his absence will continue to overshadow everything else. The story of the 2025 Rams season may ultimately be less about what happens on the field and more about who is leading the charge when it all begins.