Rams' Matthew Stafford Exits Joint Practice with Cowboys Because of Hamstring Injury

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford left Wednesday's joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys because of hamstring tightness, team officials told reporters (via ESPN's Sarah Barshop).

With Stafford out, backups Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett filled in under center for Los Angeles.

Stafford, 36, hasn't been immune to injuries in recent seasons. He missed eight games in the 2022 campaign due to elbow and back issues, while an a ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb forced him to leave a Week 8 loss against the Dallas Cowboys last season.

He didn't return to that contest, leaving him with a day-to-day designation. He then missed a Week 9 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, a 20-3 loss that saw backup Brett Rypien finished just 13-of-28 for 130 yards and an interception. The Rams' offense only managed 187 yards in the game.

The Rams had a bye in Week 10, but Stafford was able to return in Week 11 against the Seattle Seahawks as the team tried to turn around a 3-6 season.

They did just that, going 7-1 down the stretch to clinch a playoff spot. Stafford also sat out the final week of the season, with the team's postseason berth already secured.

When healthy, Stafford was inconsistent at times but ultimately posted a solid season, throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games while taking 30 sacks and completing 62.8 percent of his passes.

The 36-year-old is under contract through the 2026 season, and while that looked like it was trending toward being a rough contract when the team struggled, the late-season turnaround had Rams' fans singing a different tune.

So did the front office, reworking his deal:

If Stafford does miss time with this latest injury, backup Bennett—who had a rough preseason, especially in the opener against the Dallas Cowboys—would step into the starting role. Of note, Garoppolo is suspended for the first two games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.