Los Angeles Rams star quarterback Matthew Stafford reportedly suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to leave Wednesday’s practice early.
According to ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, Matthew Stafford had to leave the Rams’ joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys today after experiencing “hamstring tightness.” The Rams play the Los Angeles Chargers (7:05 p.m. EST) on Saturday in their second preseason game.
News of Stafford’s hamstring injury came hours after it was announced that Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy will miss the entire year after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Stafford’s injury is another concerning one to monitor in La La Land. Last week, it was reported that Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua is week-to-week with a knee injury, though he should be good to go for the Week 1 opener against the Detroit Lions.
Caleb Williams says Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are his top two quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
He talks in depth here about how special Stafford is…
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— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 8, 2024
Recovery timelines for hamstring-related injuries vary. Last year, Rams superstar wide receiver and Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp missed the team’s first four games with a hamstring injury.
Last season, Matthew Stafford enjoyed a superb bounce-back season that saw him throw for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His efforts helped LA make a surprise return to the postseason, where they narrowly fell to the Lions in the Wild Card Round.
Rams Need A Healthy Matthew Stafford To Compete
There were concerns about Stafford’s age and recent injury history heading into last year, but the Super Bowl 56-winning signal-caller stayed healthy and helped Los Angeles reach the playoffs for the third time in four years.
Los Angeles needs its franchise quarterback healthy if they’re to compete for a playoff spot in the crowded NFC. Stafford, Nacua, Kupp and running back Kyren Williams formed an explosive offense last season, and a healthy No. 9 can make all the difference in a push for another Super Bowl championship.
