The Los Angeles Rams have up to now downplayed Matthew Stafford’s ongoing absence from coaching camp. Head coach Sean McVay not too long ago mentioned the quarterback is “progressing properly” from again soreness. It seems the 37-year-old has a bit bit greater than “soreness,” with NFL Media reporting Wednesday the previous Super Bowl champion is coping with an aggravated disc.
Stafford, who additionally suffered a spinal wire contusion in 2022, has been receiving epidural injections to assist restoration, per NFL Media. Even so, the Rams are hoping the Professional Bowler might be below heart for the membership’s Week 1 sport in opposition to the Houston Texans, which is one month away. It would not be solely uncommon for Stafford to return on the final minute, as he is accomplished earlier than.
Returning for Week 1 and staying on the sphere are two completely different conversations, nonetheless. That is nonetheless a 37-year-old quarterback who’s battled a number of critical accidents over the past half-decade, to the purpose he overtly contemplated retirement.
The Rams aren’t wholly unprepared for his potential absence; backup Jimmy Garoppolo is arguably the top No. 2 signal-caller within the NFL, boasting intensive beginning expertise, together with two NFC championship appearances with the San Francisco 49ers.
Would L.A. actually enter 2025 with simply “Jimmy G” as insurance coverage, given the severity of Stafford’s difficulty? Listed here are a number of different emergency targets the Rams would possibly contemplate to bolster their quarterback depth chart:
There’s little doubt Cousins would rush to be on the helm of Sean McVay’s offense, particularly with sitting behind Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta being the choice. It is also not troublesome to attach dots between Cousins’ type — a timing-based play-action strategy — and McVay’s schematic designs. The 2 beforehand labored collectively in Washington. The holdup, after all, is that the Rams would by no means commerce for Cousins whereas Stafford is able to retaking the sphere. This can be a logical, albeit “break glass”-level, state of affairs.
This identify needs to be a lot acquainted to Rams followers. Wolford could also be hurting for intensive expertise; he is nonetheless appeared in simply 4 video games over the course of his journeyman profession. He is additionally the man Sean McVay selected over Jared Goff in the course of the latter’s closing stretch in Los Angeles, incomes two pivotal begins for the Rams whereas Goff was slumping and banged up in 2020, together with a wild card playoff sport. He might or might not stick in Jacksonville whereas competing behind Trevor Lawrence and Nick Mullens.
Heinicke is the Chargers’ most skilled backup for Justin Herbert, however the Bolts added Trey Lance as higher-upside competitors this offseason, then watched the previous top-three decide headline this month’s preseason opener. In different phrases, Heinicke needs to be accessible. He sort of suits the Baker Mayfield invoice of being a spunky yard possibility for Sean McVay. Thirty profession begins, together with a playoff run, is a worthwhile resume. He beforehand labored with present Rams quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone in Atlanta.
That is the one obvious identify nonetheless unsigned from this 12 months’s free agent quarterback class. Wentz stayed within the shadows moreover an unpleasant Week 18 gig as Patrick Mahomes‘ backup final season. Earlier than his dabble with the Kansas City Chiefs, the one-time Philadelphia Eagles star grew to become a quick favourite of McVay as Stafford’s emergency backup in 2023. He even scored 3 times in a spot begin for L.A. to shut the 12 months. Sure, he is bounced round. Sure, he is been scattershot. But when the Rams at any level want a cut price rental with some explosive traits, it is exhausting to assume they may do significantly better than Wentz.