Matthew Stafford downplays elbow injury, throws in Rams practice

Matthew Stafford downplayed the importance of his elbow damage after demonstrating simply how little it’s holding him again in apply 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 doubtless his most in depth work of coaching camp.

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

“I simply have slightly soreness,” Stafford stated. “We’re working by means of it. I felt fairly good in the present day. I assumed 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 whereas main the Rams to a championship in his first season with the group, and he had an unspecified injection in his elbow through the offseason. He didn’t throw to receivers in apply through the offseason program, however he has been taking part in drills throughout camp regardless of a restricted general schedule.

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

“I’m simply going by means of one thing that’s irritating for the time being, however I’m working by means of it,” Stafford stated. “We’ve bought 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 needed to in the present day. I’m simply making an attempt to be sensible after I get these alternatives to ensure I can come out right here, reduce it unfastened, flip it unfastened like I did in the present day and go from there.”

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

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

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

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

Reporting by Related Press.

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