Rams QB Matthew Stafford Faces Aggravated Back Injury—Will He Make a Miraculous Week 1 Comeback?

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Matthew Stafford’s name has been buzzing through the NFL grapevine this offseason, and for good reason. Here we’ve got the seasoned Rams quarterback, battling back soreness from a pesky aggravated disc in his back, yet still eyeing a Week 1 return. At 37, he’s no spring chicken, but Stafford’s dedication to getting back on the field shines through every setback. After a couple of sit-downs with back specialist Dr. Steven Watkins and an epidural injection to ease the grind, the guy’s pushing in the right direction — no doubt about it. Sean McVay’s got a plan, the team’s hopeful, and the countdown to September 7 against the Texans is ticking. The drama over his contract restructure and potential exit has fizzled out, for now, making this season one to watch as Matthew Stafford strives to recapture that playoff magic his Rams tasted back in his rookie L.A. season. LEARN MOREAdvertisementLos Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to be ready for Week 1 as he deals with a reported aggravated disc in his back, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There were talks about Stafford exiting Los Angeles over the offseason, but he ended up agreeing to a contract restructure to remain with the team. He’s entering his fifth season with the Rams, who won a Super Bowl in his first season in L.A. but have failed to advance past the divisional round since.

In Stafford’s absence, Jimmy Garoppolo has taken first-team reps while former fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett has worked with the second team. The Rams are scheduled to open their season Sept. 7 against the Houston Texans.

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