No elbow problems. No money-related hold.
Just a scheduled day off.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t practice on Monday — the team’s first in pads — but coach Sean McVay shut down speculation quicker than a Stafford pass during a two-minute drill.
“This was part of the plan all along,” McVay said, adding, “There’s nothing wrong with it. He is good.”
Jimmy Garoppolo took Stafford’s place in the first-team attack and Stetson Bennett worked with the second team.
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While both have excelled at times, there is no replacing Stafford. The 16th-year pro is the key player on a team that will enter the season with much higher expectations than the 2023 version, which finished with a better-than-expected 10-7 record and made the playoffs.
Therefore, managing Stafford’s workload and keeping the 36-year-old injury-free remains key.
In 2022, following the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford did not throw passes during the offseason and was limited in training camp because of tendonitis in his right elbow. In the midst of a lost season, he suffered a concussion that forced him to sit out one game and then a spinal injury that sidelined him for the final seven games.
Last season, Stafford returned to the elite level. After sitting out a midseason game because of a thumb injury, he led the Rams’ second-half rise to the postseason.
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During the offseason, Stafford surprised the Rams by asking for a contract adjustment. The Rams finally relented last week and resolved the situation while players reported to training camp.
Stafford looked sharp during the first week of practice delivering passes from all angles to Cooper Kupp Puka Nácua and other Rams receivers. But after a day off on Sunday, he didn’t have the shirt on Monday.
McVay said the decision to sit Stafford was made because of the amount of throws he threw and because Monday’s practice would be heavy on running plays.
Stafford will practice Tuesday, McVay said.
“We have a much better understanding of where he is at this part of his career,” McVay said. “You never want any of those elbow problems to show up again.”
Garoppolo, 32, has his own injury history, but the 11th-year pro – who signed a one-year deal with the sheep – went through off-season training unscathed and did well during the first week of camp.
On Monday, his experience and growing comfort in attack were evident.
A touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Long in the back of the end zone recalled the plays Garoppolo made with the San Francisco 49ers against the Rams while forging an 8-0 record in regular-season games.
“He has great command,” McVay said. “You could see he played hard.”
Garoppolo is expected to sit out the first two games of the regular season against the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Therefore, if Stafford were sidelined before or during these games, Bennett would be in line to replace him.
Bennett, a second-year pro, spent all of last season on the non-football injury/illness list. Monday marked his first extended team practice work since the summer of 2023.
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Bennett threw several excellent passes, one on a lateral route to receiver Xavier Smith and another on a touchdown pass to receiver Tyler Johnson. He also made some mistakes.
“He had some really good reps; some things we can be a little cleaner on,” McVay said, “but what you see at Stetson is the athleticism. The ability… if we lose containment up front, he can break and make plays with his legs.”
Bennett took advantage of his first opportunity at full-team practices.
“It went really well,” he said. “There were some mistakes, but I also made good plays.
“Just learn from it.”
Etc.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson was sidelined after suffering an ankle injury early in practice. “I think he’s going to be fine,” McVay said. … Rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske stood out on a day that featured an emphasis on rushing offense. “He showed up in style,” McVay said. “We had some things lined up that fit his skill set to allow him to really thrive and he took advantage of that.” … Nacua made a spectacular one-handed catch. … The Rams will practice in pads again on Tuesday.
This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.
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