New poll proves Matthew Stafford is still striking fear in opponents

Matthew Stafford has been dealing with a troubling injury as he prepares for his 17th NFL season, but rival teams still expect the Los Angeles Rams quarterback to be at the peak of his game when he recovers.

Stafford has not taken part in any training camp practices because of an issue with his back. Rams head coach Sean McVay said over the weekend that he expected the 37-year-old to suit up on Monday, but that did not happen. That has led to fears that Stafford had some sort of setback, though McVay insists the team is simply playing it safe and taking things day by day.

Stafford has battled numerous injuries throughout his career and played through most of them. He turned 37 in February, and there is a legitimate chance the 2025 season could be his last. Stafford is also coming off a down year statistically.

Despite all that, Stafford is still viewed around the NFL as an elite quarterback. On Monday, Mike Sando of The Athletic published his annual "Quarterback Tiers" column, which is compiled using the opinions of 50 coaches and executives from around the league. Stafford landed in Tier 1 for the first time. He was in Tier 2 for the previous 11 years.

Stafford received 26 votes for Tier 1. One defensive coordinator noted that the Rams were only a play away from reaching the NFC Championship Game last year. As that coach put it, Stafford is a quarterback who "worries the s--- out of" opposing coaching staffs.

Stafford also ranked sixth overall among quarterbacks in a list that was published by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler last month.

The Rams won the Super Bowl the year they acquired Stafford in 2021. Stafford threw for 4,886 yards with a career-high 41 touchdown passes that season. He missed half of 2022 because of injuries and then failed to top 4,000 passing yards in the last two seasons. Stafford had just 20 touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions a year ago.

Still, the level of respect for Stafford around the NFL is as high as it has ever been. Perhaps coaches and executives are expecting even more from the two-time Pro Bowl QB now that he will be throwing to both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams this season.

The injury is by far the biggest question surrounding Stafford at the moment, but that is a position he has been in before. If he can get healthy by Week 1, the Rams should once again find themselves squarely in the hunt in the NFC.