Rams' Matthew Stafford Expected to Play vs. Texans amid Back Injury, per Sean McVay

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to start in Sunday's season opener against the Houston Texans, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Monday.

Stafford was sidelined for the majority of training camp while dealing with an aggravated disk in his back.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop reported that he practiced for the first time on Aug. 18, butMcVay remained non-committal at the time about his chances to start against the Texans.

Stafford was healthy during the 2024 season and helped lead Los Angeles to a 10-7 record along with an NFC West title. In 16 games, he threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The team defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round.

One of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Stafford is entering his 17th season in the NFL. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in the 2021 season, and he's hoping to add another championship ring before he calls it a career.

If Stafford is for any reason unable to play in Week 1, veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo will take over the offense until he's able to return.