Rams shouldn't rest easy even with Matthew Stafford back on the field

Head coach Sean McVay told reporters that it was "great" to see Stafford back on the field. However, McVay added that the team is still taking things day by day with him. 

So, it's likely that Stafford won't play in the team's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, as the focus remains on safeguarding him for their Week 1 home opener against the Houston Texans.

This is quite the turnaround from the ominous update team officials gave about Stafford's status before Monday's practice. When asked whether Stafford had completed a planned workout over the weekend, a Rams official declined to comment. Stafford trotting out onto the field wearing pads and the signature red jersey of the quarterback certainly addressed it, and yet, there's still room for concern.

Stafford could easily regress if the back problem flares up again. While the backup quarterback options of Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett aren't bad, they're far from ideal. Garoppolo stepped in for Stafford throughout camp, drawing unwanted attention when he threw a hospital ball to wide receiver Davante Adams. 

When the Rams signed Adams to a two-year, $46M contract, they were hoping for him and Stafford to build chemistry over the summer. Instead, they got an unfortunate glimpse into what the season could look like without Stafford under center. There was enough concern over his absence that analysts openly wondered whether the Rams should trade for Kirk Cousins from the Atlanta Falcons as a true stopgap.

Ultimately, Stafford's prolonged absence this summer highlights the fact that the Rams have yet to develop a succession plan at quarterback. While Stafford, when healthy, is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, he won't be the face of the franchise for the next decade. 

The Rams are in a strange limbo of success with Stafford. They won Super Bowl LVI in 2022 after trading for him from the Detroit Lions and are 34-23 with Stafford as QB No. 1. He still keeps them competitive even as other aging franchise stars, like Cooper Kupp, walk in free agency. 

Due to this baseline of success, the team hasn't been in a position in the draft to pick a young quarterback that McVay can develop behind Stafford. The team has no choice but to take it day by day and hope Stafford can stay on the field for the entirety of the 2025 season.