The Los Angeles Rams were able to win their second Super Bowl championship in team history last season thanks in large part to the addition of long-time Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. The team will need him to be equally as impressive in his second season in Los Angeles to return to the Super Bowl, but there is a strange injury plaguing Stafford that may prevent him from doing so.
Rams head coach Sean McVay detailed on Thursday that Stafford is dealing with some pain in his elbow and that this type of pain is “a little bit abnormal” for a starting quarterback.
He likened the injury to a similar elbow injury to what MLB pitchers typically deal with in their throwing elbow and that the team is learning more about the injury “on the fly” according to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue.
Declined to call Stafford’s elbow issue “tendinitis” and instead noted that “it’s a tricky deal” and “abnormal for a QB”, moreso “things that MLB pitchers deal with” and team is learning more about “on the fly”. Adds Stafford looked great in limited reps today. https://t.co/5eVkA7ixgD
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 4, 2022
This has reportedly been an injury that Stafford dealt with last season as well, but it has been more prevalent this offseason, and the team has been selective when deciding on having Stafford throw this offseason.
It may be a nagging injury throughout the duration of the season for Stafford, and McVay said that the goal is to get him ready for the start of the season as they discover more about this bizarre injury.
“You want to try to have him operate in as little pain as possible,” McVay said. “I think anytime that you’ve played as long and are as tough as he is, I don’t know if you’re ever truly pain-free, but the goal would be for Sept. 8 and really looking towards 17 games then hopefully some games after that if we earn that opportunity.”
Considering how many MLB pitchers that we have seen not be the same after elbow issues, this is obviously an extremely concerning injury for the 34-year-old quarterback.
The Rams currently sit at 11-1 odds to win the Super Bowl this upcoming season only behind the Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kansas City Chiefs, but that will certainly change if Stafford is not able to play to his full capabilities next season.
