Rams' Sean McVay won't put 'cart way before the horse' regarding huge Matthew Stafford call

Los Angeles Rams fans received some good news at the start of their workweeks when they learned on Monday that quarterback Matthew Stafford practiced for the first time during training camp on Monday as he works to fully recover from a lingering back issue. 

However, Rams head coach Sean McVay wasn't yet ready to make any guarantees regarding Stafford's availability for his club's Week 1 game against the Houston Texans on Sept. 7. 

"I think that would be putting the cart way before the horse," McVay responded when asked on Monday about Stafford's status for the Rams' regular-season opener, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "I thought he did a good job today." 

Eyebrows understandably were raised when it was reported earlier in August that Stafford, 37, was dealing with an aggravated disc that left him needing "epidurals to aid in dealing with the injury." He became the subject of numerous stories regarding a potential retirement in late 2022 after he was evaluated for concussions on multiple occasions before he was diagnosed with a spinal cord contusion. 

Most recently, Stafford started 16 games for the Rams last season before they rested starters in Week 18. 

"We're going to keep it a day and really a week at a time, but it was great to be able to see him out there today. We'll see how this afternoon goes and tomorrow," McVay said about Stafford on Monday, per Nick Shook of the NFL's website. 

Journeyman Jimmy Garoppolo presumably would start for Los Angeles if Stafford can't play against Houston. 2023 fourth-round draft pick Stetson Bennett IV is currently the Rams' third-choice option at the position. 

"My job is to make sure [I] stay steady and even keeled," McVay added about his unsettled quarterback situation, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "No. 1 for Matthew, but for our group. And of course, you want him to feel as good as possible and be able to lead the way, but if the circumstances don't allow that, then we have a lot of confidence in Jimmy and Stetson and our group as a whole."

Even before the Cleveland Browns confirmed on Monday that veteran Joe Flacco will be their Week 1 QB1, some suggested that Cleveland could make backup Kenny Pickett available to other clubs. For what it's worth, the Browns will host the Rams in the final week of preseason play this coming Saturday.