The Los Angeles Rams are ensuring they’re being smart about their players’ health ahead of the 2022 season.
Van Jefferson had a procedure done to help him with a knee issue, while Jacob Harris will sit out the next couple of weeks with a groin injury. However, all eyes have been on Matthew Stafford as he has his reps monitored while they manage his elbow pain.
Stafford has looked fine in throwing periods and he’s surprised that so much attention has been placed on his elbow via Cameron DaSilva of USA Today:
“It’s gotten a lot more traction than I would’ve thought, to be honest with you,” he said. “But to be honest, it doesn’t really change my life. I’m just sticking to the plan and trying to get the feeling as good as I possibly can so that I can go out there and play really good football all year.”
It’s obviously a concern when your starting quarterback has pain in his throwing elbow, but Stafford is trusting the plan in place and feels stronger each time he takes the field:
“I’m just going through something that is irritating at the moment but I’m working through it,” he said. “We got a great plan. I’m feeling stronger every time I come out here and throw. I don’t know if you guys were watching, I felt like I could make any throw I wanted to today. I’m just trying to be smart when I get those opportunities to make sure I can come out here, cut it loose, turn it loose like I did today and go from there.”
Eyebrows were raised when some within the team described the injury as something baseball pitcher’s deal with, but Stafford downplayed the diagnosis and instead emphasized on his progression during training camp:
“I don’t know if it’s a baseball or a football injury,” he said. “I currently play football and it’s on a football player so I guess it’s a football injury at this point. I’m not really too worried about what it’s called or whether it’s abnormal or not, or whatever. I’m worried about here today. How did I feel? Let’s continue to progress and get better.”
As of now, Stafford isn’t in danger of missing Week 1 but this will have to be a situation the team continues to monitor as the season opener gets closer.
