Only one day after hearing news that the Indianapolis Colts might be without quarterback Carson Wentz for a significant amount of time due to a foot injury suffered in training camp, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves looking for answers regarding Matthew Stafford -- another high-profile QB who is looking for a fresh start in 2021. Stafford suffered an injury in practice when his surgically repaired thumb slammed into a defender's helmet, per the Los Angeles Times, and the team wasn't exactly forthcoming in detailing what the prognosis might be on a return to the field.
Early reports are optimistic, with X-rays reportedly showing no break, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, with Stafford set (at the moment) to likely miss days and not weeks or more -- the injury being described as nothing major by Rapoport. But as for the team itself, the Rams are still holding their cards close to the vest as they continue to evaluate Stafford.
"We'll see," head coach Sean McVay said of the injury. "He's so tough as it is. Look at what he played through all last year to get the thumb cleaned up. He's a tough guy. We'll see what they say and take it one day at a time."
It'll be a familiar face in backup quarterback John Wolford taking over the QB1 snaps until further notice.
In early March, Stafford underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in the thumb in question, so it stands to reason the Rams would be nervous about seeing it make forceful contact with a helmet.
To McVay's point, though, Stafford played through the injury in 2020 and finished the year and his career with the Detroit Lions having thrown for 4,084 yards and 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions over a full 16-game slate -- missing zero games last season -- while also nursing a torn ligament in his elbow, an ankle sprain and a broken rib. That said, the Rams would prefer him completely healthy to start the 2021 season, and especially after having made a blockbuster trade to make him the face of the franchise, shipping away Jared Goff to Detroit as a part of the deal.
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After all, they've already lost running back Cam Akers to a torn Achilles. And as for Stafford, McVay is regretful more wasn't done to protect the Rams' starting QB in practice.
"It's one of those things where I'm saying to myself, I feel stupid that I didn't implement some of the things to prevent that," McVay said. "I've seen some teams around the league where they have those shells on the helmets, where you can soften the blow if you come down on top of it. It's one of those things where you hope you don't have to learn the hard way."
Stafford's status going forward is currently TBD, but the Rams hope he's back on the field at camp ASAP.
