Rams Coach Sean McVay Gives Health Update on QB Matthew Stafford
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Injuries were a major factor in the Los Angeles Rams' struggles in 2022, ultimately leading to the team missing the playoffs with a 5-12 record.
Among the key injuries for the Rams, and perhaps the most important, was the elbow injury to quarterback Matthew Stafford who struggled in a big way before being lost to the season with a completely separate injury in a spinal contusion.
And on Monday at the NFL Owners meetings, Rams head coach Sean McVay shed some light on Stafford's struggles with his elbow in 2022, and how it affected his overall performance.
“He’s feeling good. I was just with him the other day and he was in the facility and doing some extra work and being able to throw,” McVay said. “His elbow’s feeling good. People forget what a big deal that was and that was a little bit different than what we anticipated in terms of the recovery time, goes through some of the concussions and things like that."
Even before the contusion, however, Stafford was having a difficult time, throwing for just 2,087 yards and 10 touchdowns with eight interceptions in nine games.
Things were so bad for Stafford in fact, that some NFL analysts claimed that he 'could barely throw', and that he should consider retirement.
Others, have now suggested that the Rams move up and select a future franchise QB to replace Stafford sooner, rather than later.
But with that season and those injuries now in the past, McVay was clear that Stafford is using his poor performance as motivation for a bounce-back year in 2023.
"He’s motivated," McVay said. "We all know what an elite competitor he is and I think he’s excited. Sometimes when you’re forced to miss the game, it reenergizes you and reignites you to be able to go and really enjoy competing and just go play and see how it goes.”
Stafford and the Rams will begin the offseason program on April 17.
After that OTAs will begin, with the workout dates set for May 22-23, May 25, May 30-31, June 2, June 5-6, and June 8
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