Stafford downplays elbow injury, throws in Rams practice

Matthew Stafford downplayed the importance of his elbow harm after demonstrating simply how little it’s holding him again in follow with the Los Angeles Rams.

Stafford participated extensively within the Rams’ newest exercise at UC Irvine on Saturday, making deep throws and constructing chemistry together with his teammates in what was seemingly his most intensive work of coaching camp.

Afterward, Stafford mentioned his proper elbow situation is merely “irritating,” and never a risk to his capacity to steer the Tremendous Bowl champions’ title protection.

“I simply have a little bit soreness,” Stafford mentioned. “We’re working by means of it. I felt fairly good in the present day. I believed it seemed fairly good. Simply making an attempt to be sensible with it, and make me really feel nearly as good as I can really feel going into Week 1 whereas nonetheless getting as many reps as I can, too.”

Stafford had elbow ache final season whereas main the Rams to a championship in his first season with the staff, and he had an unspecified injection in his elbow throughout the offseason. He didn’t throw to receivers in follow throughout the offseason program, however he has been collaborating recurrently in drills throughout camp regardless of a restricted total schedule.

Nonetheless, coach Sean McVay raised eyebrows Thursday when he mentioned Stafford’s harm was “irregular” for a quarterback, likening it to accidents extra usually seen in baseball pitchers. Stafford once more declined to enter specifics about his harm Saturday, however he says it’s nothing he can’t deal with.

“I’m simply going by means of one thing that’s irritating in the mean time, however I’m working by means of it,” Stafford mentioned. “We’ve obtained an important plan. I’m feeling stronger each time I come out right here and throw. I felt like I may make any throw I wished to in the present day. I’m simply making an attempt to be sensible once I get these alternatives to ensure I can come out right here, minimize it unfastened, flip it unfastened like I did in the present day and go from there.”

McVay identified that Stafford was making each throw throughout the Rams’ exercise Saturday. The coach doesn’t use any of his key gamers within the preseason, so Stafford’s first likelihood to display his arm in a sport gained’t happen till Los Angeles’ season opener on Sept. 8 towards Buffalo at SoFi Stadium.

“The way in which that he seemed in the present day, I don’t assume you’ll know that something was happening,” McVay mentioned. “He felt good, so I do know that I’m going to sleep higher tonight.”

The 34-year-old Stafford has 49,995 yards passing as he heads into his 14th season this fall, rating him twelfth in NFL historical past and fourth amongst lively quarterbacks. He agreed to a contract extension by means of 2026 throughout the offseason, and he has no public doubt he’ll have the ability to sling it during his dedication to the Rams and maybe past.

“Anytime you place an arm by means of as a lot stress as I’ve through the years, it’s not going to appear like (an everyday individual’s) elbow, I’m positive,” Stafford mentioned. “It’s not a type of issues that … the extra I throw, the more serious it’s going to get. It’s sort of only a balancing act at this level.”

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