Rams' Matthew Stafford Ruled Out for Joint Practice with Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have an off day on Sunday and a practice on Monday in Oxnard before their first joint practice of training camp, welcoming the nearby Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday.

The Rams are a major favorite in the NFC West, namely after the addition of star wide receiver Davante Adams to pair with rising stud Puka Nacua, but the new dynamic duo will be without their quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Stafford, 37, has been ruled "week-to-week" with a back injury by head coach Sean McVay. Entering his fifth season in LA, he has yet to practice at training camp so far amid these issues.

About his upcoming practice with the Cowboys? "The Cowboys, no,” McVay said of Stafford's expected participation. “The Cowboys, I would say that’s less than likely."

The Rams have another joint workout with their cross-town rival Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 13, shortly after the Aug. 5 meeting with Dallas. McVay is keeping his options open regarding that one as well, or at least being careful in how he elaborates to the media.

"With the Chargers, and I know I’m probably irritating you guys, but it truly is a week-to-week thing and what I don’t want to do is set a timeline," McVay said. "I know he’s making good progress, saw (back specialist) Dr. [Steven]Watkins again today. Everything is in good shape. But to answer your question, the Cowboys is a no and then we’ll see about the Chargers.”

These back issues have lingered with Stafford in recent years, so the caution here is not out of the ordinary, especially given his age.

This chain of "week-to-week" statuses will gain speculation as they inch closer to the regular season. We are exactly five weeks away from the Rams' Week 1 game against the Houston Texans. The clock is ticking, but McVay is holding out hope that Stafford will be ready to go by then.

Before then, the teams will take what they learned about one another into their first preseason game on Saturday. The Rams face the Chargers in their second preseason affair on Aug. 16.

Dallas' next two preseason contests will come against the Baltimore Ravens (Aug. 16) and the Atlanta Falcons (Aug. 22) - those two will both be played back home in Arlington.

Rams veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to see most of the action in the joint workout with the Cowboys on Tuesday. Former fourth-round pick and Georgia legend Stetson Bennett will also get some run with the second team.

Stafford re-structured his contract this offseason to stay in LA after rumors that he would retire or seek a trade. In at least one more season (his 17th in the NFL) in 2025, Stafford is hoping to get through the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the first time since his first season with the Rams when they won Super Bowl LVI in 2021.