Matthew Stafford has a Super Bowl to defend this year, but his body may not be cooperating.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Thursday that the Los Angeles Rams quarterback is dealing with an issue in his throwing elbow and is being limited at training camp.
Later on Thursday, Rams coach Sean McVay addressed Stafford’s ailment. He said that Stafford’s issue is “a tricky deal,” also adding, “abnormal for a QB.” McVay noted that the injury is more in line with something that “MLB pitchers deal with,” per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. Coach McVay also said that this is not a new injury for Stafford, who dealt with an elbow issue through last season, as well. The difference between last year and this is how the Rams are dealing with Stafford's injury.
Rapoport further notes that this kind of injury is sometimes referred to in baseball players as “thrower’s elbow.”
If Stafford was hindered by the elbow issue last year, it certainly did not show. In his first season with the Rams, Stafford posted some of the best numbers of his career in throwing yards (4,886), throwing touchdowns (41), as well as completion percentage (67.2). He also started in all 17 regular season games and capped the year by capturing that elusive first Super Bowl win.
Though Stafford led the Rams to a championship, that does not overlook that this ailment is at least somewhat concerning. He will be 35 years old in a few months and is about to begin season 14 in the NFL. The wear and ear of nearly a decade and a half of NFL play can put a strain on the body. And for a quarterback, the throwing arm is a major part of his continued productivity.
The Rams have made a big commitment to Stafford, who is signed through 2026 on a deal that will pay him $130 million guaranteed (though the team does have a potential out before the final season of Stafford’s contract). His elbow ailment could easily end up as a nothing burger, particularly since the Rams are proactively managing it. But it will still be one of many storylines to watch with the Rams heading into the new season.
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