The Rams were one of the NFL's surprise teams last season.
Los Angeles went from winning the Super Bowl in 2021 to going 5-12 and missing the playoffs in 2022 to surprisingly reaching 10 wins and earning an NFC wild-card spot in 2023.
Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford bounced back from an injury-riddled 2022 campaign to throw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions last year. He found a new favorite target in standout rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua and the Rams' offense has plenty of weapons with Cooper Kupp starting the season healthy and Kyren Williams coming off a breakout year.
Stafford has already been hampered by an injury in the preseason, though. How serious is the star QB's ailment and will he be ready for Los Angeles' Week 1 NFC wild-card rematch with the Lions?
The Sporting News has you covered with the latest updates below.
What is Matthew Stafford's injury?
Stafford left the Rams' joint practice with the Cowboys with hamstring tightness during Week 2 of the preseason.
Head coach Sean McVay never seemed worried about his starting quarterback's injury.
"I’m not concerned,” McVay told ESPN's Sarah Barshop a few days after Stafford tweaked his hamstring. “I’m not … Do you want him to be able to get the work? Of course. But I’m not concerned based on what I understand the tightness is and erring on the safe side of caution for this week, if that's what we end up having to do.”
Stafford missed a few practices as a result, but where does he stand going into the 2024 season?
Will Matthew Stafford be ready for Week 1 vs. Lions?
Stafford returned to practice as a full participant during Week 3 of the preseason, so he is all but certain to be ready to suit up for the Rams' Week 1 matchup with the Lions.
Head coach McVay even admitted that his starting quarterback was upset with the team for not letting him practice through his hamstring tightness, adding more clarity to the severity of the injury.
"He’s feeling great. He was obviously very upset at me that he wasn’t practicing [on Aug. 19], which is a good thing," McVay told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.
"That’s what makes him a great competitor. It’s also our job to make sure, looking at the timetable we have . . . if there was any sort of sudden movement where there was a setback, that wouldn’t be worth it. That’s why we held him.”
Expect Stafford to be ready to go to start the 2024 season.