Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has suffered a back injury. Will Stafford be ready to play Week 1 against the Houston Texans?
Matthew Stafford Injury Details
Sources: #Rams QB Matthew Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc and has received an epidural to help him deal with it.
Los Angeles has called him week-to-week, being cautious, but with plans for him to be ready for Week 1. pic.twitter.com/wpj0Uqghax
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2025
Stafford is in training camp, but a back injury has kept him out of team drills.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Stafford is dealing with an aggravated disc in his back. To combat the soreness, Stafford has been receiving epidurals to treat the injury.
The Rams are saying that Stafford is week-to-week and should be ready for Week 1. Up to this point, head coach Sean McVay has not echoed concern in his press conferences.
However, Stafford standing on the sidelines during training camp isn’t ideal.
This is not the first time Stafford has dealt with a back injury on the Rams. In 2022, Stafford suffered a spinal cord contusion that ended his season following a Week 13 loss.
If Stafford isn’t ready to play in Week 1, Jimmy Garoppolo would be the starter. 2025 is Garoppolo’s second consecutive season with the Rams.
The Rams are currently practicing against the Dallas Cowboys ahead of their preseason opener on Saturday night. Garoppolo’s passing has reportedly been “on point” during the team drills against the Cowboys.
“I thought Jimmy was awesome,” head coach Sean McVay said on Wednesday via the Rams team website. “Ball didn’t touch the ground much for him.”
With Stafford on the sidelines, Garoppolo is the first-string quarterback, meaning he will likely not play Saturday night against the Cowboys. The Rams typically do not play starters or backups during the preseason.
Rams Looking To Take The Next Step In 2025
Jalen Carter played 68 of 70 defensive snaps and was double-teamed on 26 of his 49 pass rushes against the Rams.
Carter forced a key third down sack on the Rams’ final drive, then forced a pressure on fourth down to clinch the game.#LARvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/ZitGdVZjvr
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) January 19, 2025
The Rams have the weapons and pedigree to return to the Super Bowl.
Since winning the championship during the 2021 season, the Rams have played in two of the past three postseasons. In 2023, the Detroit Lions defeated the Rams by one point in the Wild Card round.
Last season, the Rams arguably gave the Philadelphia Eagles their toughest game. With a few minutes left in the game, the Rams, who were down six points, drove down to the 13-yard line with a little over a minute to go. Had it not been for a Jalen Carter sack, the Rams might have scored a touchdown and won the game.
However, Carter sacked Stafford on third down, and then the Eagles forced an incomplete pass on fourth down to win the game.
Most of the Rams’ impact players return, including Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Kyren Williams. Cooper Kupp is gone, but the team signed Davante Adams to replace him.
If the Rams’ young defense continues to improve, the Rams will once again be a team no one wants to play in January.
