Matthew Stafford 'Trying Some Different Things' to Help Back Injury, Rams' McVay Says

Matthew Stafford's availability for the start of the regular season is starting to be a cause for concern.

Head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Thursday that Stafford will work out on Saturday amidst his ongoing back issues, similar to his Aug. 9 workout, and added that "hopefully [his back] responds a little bit better."

"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 continued.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier in the week that the Rams have remained confident that Stafford would be ready for the start of the season as he deals with an aggravated disk, though the warning signs are mounting:

As for treatment options, surgery has not been one of the options discussed between Stafford and the organization.

"That hasn't been a conversation that we've had," McVay told reporters Monday. "There's been a lot of conversations about what's the best method of how we want to approach it. That hasn't been something that comes up."

Stafford, 37, isn't coming off his best season, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 16 games in 2024, taking 28 sacks while completing 65.8 percent of his passes. But the Rams were 10-6 in his starts and he led them to the Divisional Round, where they gave the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles all they could handle.

The alternative would be Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight appearances over the past two seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders and Rams. Not exactly an ideal scenario.

For the time being, the Rams aren't publicly hitting the panic button. But the longer Stafford goes without practicing at training camp, the more concern will mount behind the scenes.