Worrisome injury news may sprinkle cold water on Rams' early Super Bowl hopes

Nacua's status remains unclear, and it seems Garrett's injury is a nagging issue but not season-ending. That said, the news highlights a potential concern for a team that's widely viewed as a preseason Super Bowl favorite. 

Durability could prevent the Rams from winning Super Bowl LXI 

Per Spotrac, the Rams enter the 2026 season with the eighth-highest average roster age (26.5) in the NFL. That figure would only increase if former defensive lineman Aaron Donald, 35, comes out of retirement, and several signs are indicating he will. 

Teams with older rosters don't typically win Super Bowls. Last season, the Seattle Seahawks ranked 26th in the league in average roster age (26.2). The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles were even younger, ranking 30th in average roster age (25.6). 

Teams that boast stars who have some tread on their tires, but not too much, make deep runs in the playoffs. The Rams have the stars, but they have clocked more miles. 

Garrett turns 31 on Dec. 29 and never played in fewer than 10 games in his first nine seasons with the Browns. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, is 38. 

Stafford played 17 games in 2025, tossing a league-leading 46 touchdown passes and winning league MVP. The QB, however, battled a back issue before the start of the season. He also sprained his right thumb in 2023 and suffered a spine injury and concussion in 2022. In total, he missed nine games because of those injuries. 

Stafford suffering another injury that would sideline him for multiple games could be a worst-case scenario for the Rams. Their backup QBs are Stetson Bennett IV, rookie Ty Simpson and undrafted rookie Matthew Caldwell. 2023 fourth-round pick Bennett has never thrown a pass in a regular-season game. 

Nacua, 25, isn't as old as the other stars, but his play style makes him susceptible to injury. He often tries to fight for catches in heavy traffic. Pro Football Focus credited him with the most contested catches (30) in the league last season (including playoffs). 

As of Tuesday, DraftKings Sportsbook lists the Rams as a heavy Super Bowl LXI favorite (+550), ahead of the Buffalo Bills (+1000) and Baltimore Ravens (+1000). Many preseason favorites, however, fail to bring the Lombardi Trophy home. 

Injuries to stars could definitely be something that prevents the Rams from winning their third Super Bowl. It appears they're already struggling to stay healthy before the team's preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday (4 p.m. ET).