Tag: Stafford

Nov 2, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) stands in the pocket against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Matthew Stafford fires four TDs as Rams blast Saints

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Rams rolled past the New Orleans Saints 34-10 on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif.

Stafford, who tied his career best with five touchdown passes in a 35-7 victory over Jacksonville two weeks ago before the Rams (6-2) had their bye, completed 24 of 32 passes for 281 yards.

Tyler Shough, a rookie second-round draft choice from Louisville, made his first NFL start and completed 15 of 24 passes for 176 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Saints (1-8), who ran just 40 offensive plays compared to the Rams’ 77.

Los Angeles led by 10 at halftime and then received the second-half kickoff and held the ball for nine minutes, 46 seconds. The Rams covered 80 yards on 16 plays, the last of which was a 4-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Davante Adams that increased the Rams’ lead to 27-10.

Kamren Kinchens recovered Alvin Kamara’s fumble at the Los Angeles 48-yard line. The Rams cashed in 10 plays later with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams on fourth down to increase the lead to 24 early in the fourth quarter. Williams finished with 114 rushing yards on 25 carries.

On the Rams’ first possession of the game Stafford drove them 88 yards in 12 plays, the last of which was a 1-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee that produced a 7-0 lead, which held up through the end of the first quarter.

On the seventh play of the second quarter, Stafford threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Adams to increase the lead to 13-0.

The Saints got their first points when Blake Grupe kicked a 39-yard field goal, but on the third play after the ensuing kickoff, Stafford threw his third touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to Puka Nacua that pushed the lead to 20-3.

Los Angeles missed an opportunity to extend the lead further when Joshua Karty’s 39-yard field-goal attempt was wide right. Shough drove New Orleans 71 yards in 47 seconds and his first NFL touchdown pass, an 11-yarder to Juwan Johnson with seven seconds left, to trim the deficit to 20-10.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Rams QB Matthew Stafford set for another Saturday workout

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Matthew Stafford is not ready to practice but head coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams anticipate their starting quarterback testing the health of his balky back on Saturday.

Stafford has not participated in training camp because of the back issue. He missed a targeted return-to-practice date on Monday after he tried to throw Saturday and experienced discomfort.

He received an epidural injection and earlier this week was filmed by reporters entering a hyperbaric recovery trailer parked at the team practice facility.

McVay said it’s a “little bit of both” pain tolerance and function Stafford must overcome.

“We’re trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don’t really have much more information other than think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field,” McVay said Thursday.

McVay said the goal remains having Stafford in the lineup when the Houston Texans visit Los Angeles for Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 7. That gives the organization three weeks to find answers.

Backup Stetson Bennett IV completed 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception last week in a 32-21 preseason home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Jimmy Garoppolo won’t play in the preseason, McVay stated, and is the likely choice if the Rams need an emergency spot starter for Stafford.

The Rams downplayed rumors the team would be interested in acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Falcons. Cousins and McVay have a history from their days together in Washington, and former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is Cousins’ current coach in Atlanta, where Michael Penix Jr. is now the starter.

Stafford, 37, was the first overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Cousins turns 37 next week. He entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2012.

–Field Level Media

Jun 3, 2025; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams have ‘no update’ on ailing QB Matthew Stafford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tuesday marked another day on the sidelines for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, whose back problem continued to keep him out of duty at training camp.

Stafford, 37, was expected to participate in his first training camp practice on Monday but came out in street clothes. It was no different Tuesday, as Jimmy Garoppolo worked with the first team again and Stafford stayed out of the mix.

“No, no update on Matthew,” assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant said, per Pro Football Talk, “but what I will tell you is it’s very tough for not only him and for the organization. I would say is that he’s trying his best.”

Pleasant went on to say that the Rams were “Matthew’s team” but that he was pleased with how the offensive coaching staff was “catering an offense” toward Garoppolo in recent days.

The developments create further uncertainty about Stafford’s readiness to play in Week 1. Garoppolo is taking the majority of first-team reps as the Rams prepare to open the regular season Sept. 7 against the visiting Houston Texans.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI and is entering his 17th NFL season. A concussion and spinal cord contusion limited him to nine games in 2022, but he only sat out two games in 2023 and one last year.

–Field Level Media

Aug 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks on the field prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Rams QB Matthew Stafford (back) still unable to practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford missed Monday’s practice in an unexpected development as he continues to nurse a back injury.

Los Angeles coach Sean McVay declared over the weekend that the 37-year-old signal-caller would participate in his first training camp practice on Monday.

Instead, Stafford was dressed in street clothes and reporters observed him stepping into an Airstream-type trailer known as an Ammortal chamber at the team’s training complex in Woodland Hills, Calif.

The Ammortal chamber is advertised as a “wellness device that aims to optimize human performance and promote holistic health through a combination of non-invasive technologies.”

Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back, which has limited his preparation as he heads into his 17th season.

In his absence, Stetson Bennett IV threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 31-21 preseason win against the Dallas Cowboys in Inglewood, Calif.

The Rams open the regular season on Sunday, Sept. 7, with a visit from the Houston Texans.

Stafford completed 340 of 517 passes (65.8 percent) for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season while starting all 16 games in which he appeared.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards, 377 TDs and 188 interceptions in 222 regular-season games (all starts) with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams. He ranks 10th all-time in touchdown passes and passing yardage — and second to Aaron Rodgers among active quarterbacks. The Lions selected him with the first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia.

Stafford led the Rams to a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (11) throws for a reception at SoFi Stadium for the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams Week 18 matchup. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images

Reports: Rams re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo to 1-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Rams re-signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a one-year, $11 million deal to be their primary backup again in 2025, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

Garoppolo, 33, played the 2024 season on a one-year deal worth $3.1 million. He started the regular season finale in place of a resting Matthew Stafford, throwing for 334 yards in a meaningless 30-25 loss to Seattle.

Garoppolo was receiving interest from other teams, per ESPN.

Garoppolo is 43-21 as a starter in his career, throwing for 15,828 yards, 96 touchdowns and 52 interceptions for the New England patriots (2014-16), San Francisco 49ers (2017-22), Las Vegas Raiders (2023) and Rams.

He was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Patriots and started for the 49ers in a Super Bowl LIV loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

–Field Level Media

May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay (left) talks with quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Rams respect QB Matthew Stafford’s year-to-year status

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Matthew Stafford required only three weeks to accomplish what the 37-year-old quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams needed seven months to accomplish last offseason: agreeing to a new contract.

The Rams modified Stafford’s contract for the 2025 season, added guarantees for the 2026 league year and respected his sense of urgency to shorten the offseason drama head coach Sean McVay said brought on too many sleepless nights last spring.

“Maybe it’ll (take) about two, three days next year if we have to do this,” McVay said of the second February in a row investing time into the contract status of his quarterback.

“We’ve taken it a year at a time, and he’s earned the right I believe,” McVay said. “To be able to say he can play for a few more years if that’s what he wanted. But we’ve always had great dialogue, and I really think it’s been a year-to-year thing. He’s obviously under contract for two more years with us, but as long as he wants to play, I know we’re feeling really good about that.”

Stafford and McVay agreed the “end goal” both sides had in mind was a contract for a fifth season together — 2025 — to get a firm grasp of the franchise’s bottom line as they began reshaping the team in free agency.

The next priority was a three-year deal with left tackle Alaric Jackson, who signed Friday two weeks before he could’ve bolted in free agency.

McVay said the Rams are still actively talking about their approach to the limbo around wide receiver Cooper Kupp. There is no deadline for either side, but Kupp is aware the Rams have engaged other teams about a potential trade.

“We’ll take it a day at a time,” McVay said.

–Field Level Media

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) could have an opportunity to play in New York again next season -- for the Giants.

Reports: Giants switch QB focus to Aaron Rodgers

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Aaron Rodgers’ goal of playing in New York a few more years might still be attainable.

According to reports, the New York Giants are pursuing the 41-year-old quarterback who will no longer suit up for the Jets under new coach Aaron Glenn.

A two-year run with the Jets is coming to an end after Rodgers and Glenn met to discuss the future. The Giants are trying to end a two-year slump where offensive line injuries, poor quarterback play and assorted other issues have led to a combined 9-25 record after reaching the playoffs in 2022.

Rodgers joined the Jets amid much fanfare ahead of the 2023 season but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the opener. Last season, he rebounded to start all 17 games but the Jets finished only 5-12. He completed 63.0 percent of his passes for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Giants quarterbacks combined for 15 touchdowns and 17 turnovers (13 interceptions) in 2024, when former first-round pick Daniel Jones was benched, then released in November.

The Athletic reported the Giants’ decision-makers were focused on a bid for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford until Friday, when he agreed to a restructured contract to return to Los Angeles.

The Giants also hold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

A four-time MVP and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, Rodgers is the active NFL leader with 62,952 passing yards and 503 touchdown passes in 20 seasons with the Green Bay Packers (2005-22) and Jets.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Rams prefer Matthew Stafford at QB1, work through complex appraisal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

INDIANAPOLIS — Only Aaron Rodgers has more career earnings as an NFL quarterback than current Los Angeles Rams starter Matthew Stafford, but it’s possible finances send the latter to a new destination for 2025.

Rams head coach Sean McVay, who courted Stafford before Los Angeles traded Jared Goff and multiple draft picks in a swap of starting quarterbacks before the 2022 season, clarified Tuesday that the preference from the team’s perspective is to stick with Stafford. But the Rams are in limbo as Stafford’s representatives contact other teams to assess his market value, which required the Rams’ signoff.

In an interview with ex-NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, who played for the Rams and McVay before retiring, on the “Fitz & Whit” podcast, McVay attempted to clarify that Los Angeles would love to keep Stafford, 37.

“There’s no discrepancy on us wanting him to continue to lead the way and be our quarterback. The interesting and the challenging dilemma and dynamics within this are, ‘Hey, how do you continuously as a head coach look at the short term and the long term and be able to figure out what does that really look like?’” McVay said on the podcast.

Stafford has two years remaining on his current contract with a salary of $27 million in 2025 and only $4 million guaranteed. By base salary — $23 million — Stafford is No. 8 in the NFL using current salary information. His cap number is fifth-highest in the league at $49.67 million for next season.

The Rams view of the salary and contract came due to a difference of opinion with Stafford’s camp. McVay said the Rams had “something in mind, (agent Jimmy Sexton and Stafford) had something and mind and nobody was right or wrong,” so they hatched the plan to transparently gauge value.

Even with the public appraisal pending, there stands a chance the Rams will decide to look at another quarterback.

“There is no dispute — and let’s not get it twisted in regarding to anybody wanting him to be our quarterback. Now, there’s layers to it,” McVay said. “You have to be able to say, ‘Hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things?’”

Stafford is among the league’s statistical greats, ranked 10th all-time in career passing yards (59,809) and touchdown passes (377), and ninth in both pass completions and attempts. He’s 5-2 with the Rams in the playoffs, including a victory in Super Bowl LVI in 2022, after going 0-3 over his 12 seasons in Detroit.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Rams, Sean McVay anxious for QB Matthew Stafford’s decision on ’25

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sean McVay wants to avoid what happened last offseason when the Los Angeles Rams spent months in limbo awaiting clarity from Matthew Stafford.

After reaching the playoffs and beating the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round, Los Angeles ended its season with a road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC divisional playoffs last week, thus restarting the cycle of Stafford questions for the coach.

“We don’t want to have that go on again,” McVay said of Stafford stringing out a final call on whether he’ll play another season. “I don’t think that’s good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity. Understanding clear, open and honest communication. I think there’s a lot of love coming from our part. I think there’s a lot of appreciation coming from his part as well. And I think a lot sooner than later is an ideal scenario.”

McVay did not fully commit to keeping Stafford as the QB1 in 2025. His plan, as usual, is to begin charting a course at quarterback, then expanding to other positions.

“The quarterback is always the first thing in mind as it relates to how you move forward with the team,” McVay said.

Stafford was acquired from the Lions in a deal in which the Rams sent Jared Goff and draft picks that ultimately landed wide receiver Jameson Williams, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta and others in Detroit. Thirteen months after the trade was completed, Stafford and McVay were celebrating a win in Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.

Asked whether the Rams are definitively committed to Stafford in his 17th NFL season if he doesn’t retire, McVay was vague.

“We’ll talk about all those things at the appropriate time,” he said. “I love him. I love working with him.”

Stafford is among the league’s statistical greats, ranked 10th all-time in career passing yards (59,809) and touchdown passes (377), and ninth in both pass completions and attempts. He’s 5-2 with the Rams in the playoffs after going 0-3 over his 12 seasons in Detroit.

Stafford said he feels like he’s playing good enough football to return. He turns 37 two days before the Super Bowl and is recovering from a rib injury McVay confirmed was a factor in his performance, although it didn’t keep Stafford out of practice. Stafford’s wife, Kelly, said her husband played the final games of the season with five broken ribs suffered in a 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers last month.

McVay said tests on Stafford were taken after the game and “nothing showed up on that imaging.”

“But he did have some irritation. And then before the Minnesota game when he did get an MRI scan there showed some stress reactions. That was what was communicated to me,” McVay said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images

Rams WR Cooper Kupp questionable for Week 7; Nacua next week?

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Cooper Kupp is questionable to play on Sunday but Rams head coach Sean McVay is optimistic the No. 1 receiver is ready to roll when Los Angeles hosts the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kupp has been out with a high left ankle sprain, an injury that hit Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals. He caught 14 passes Week 1 against the Lions.

Two weeks ago, McVay said this week’s matchup against the Raiders was “an ideal target” for Kupp’s return. The Rams are returning from their bye week.

“(The Raiders game) was always an optimistic target date just based on a few weeks back that we had set,” McVay said. “But by no means is that guaranteed.”

The Rams are not ready to bring Puka Nacua back from knee surgery, but the wide receiver is expected to be back soon. He had four catches for 35 yards before exiting the Sunday night opener at Detroit on Sept. 8. He was placed on injured reserve with a sprained PCL. The Rams have a short week of preparation after playing the Raiders with the currently undefeated Minnesota Vikings (5-0) up next on Thursday night.

Kupp, 31, has 18 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown in two games this season. He has amassed 585 catches for 7,213 yards and 52 scores over his eight-year career. The Rams selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Eastern Washington.

His best season came in 2021, when he led the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947), receiving touchdowns (16) and receiving yards per game (114.5) en route to his only Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors to date. He caught the game-winning touchdown in that year’s Super Bowl, for which he was named MVP.

–Field Level Media