Matthew Stafford departed the Los Angeles Rams’ joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, a team official confirmed. The quarterback was experiencing hamstring tightness.
“[Stafford] operates at a world-class level,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur stated. “But we know that every rep is going to be valuable for him, no matter how many plays he’s had. Unfortunately, he had some tightness.” According to the aforementioned team official, the Rams are not concerned about Stafford’s injury and expect it to be a minor short-term setback.
During Stafford’s absence, backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett took over reps for the second half of practice. Garropolo, who is suspended the first two games of the season due to violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy, is unlikely to play in any preseason games.
Stafford proved to be a key player in the Rams’ lineup last season, posting 3,965 yards, 24 touchdown passes, and 11 interceptions. While the quarterback was set to speak to reporters following Wednesday’s practice, his scheduled news conference was canceled. Having finished second in the NFC West last season, the Rams clinched a wild card spot, losing 24-23 to the Detroit Lions.
