Matthew Stafford Is ’38 Years Old’ and ‘Sore,’ But His Full Practice Is What Nobody’s Talking About

Matthew Stafford hit the practice field as a full participant this Wednesday, listed with an elbow injury, and that’s the kind of news that makes you breathe a little easier. After Rams coach Sean McVay played it coy about an ice pack on Stafford’s arm following Sunday’s win against the Chargers, calling it just “soreness,” seeing him out there full-go is a huge relief.

Stafford Shrugs Off The Niggles

Let’s be real, seeing any QB with an ice pack is always a worry, but the injury report backed McVay’s low-key take, saying it isn’t serious. And Stafford himself? He’s definitely not worried. He told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, “I’m 38 years old, trying to keep up with these young bucks. Little bit of soreness and stuff that is not uncommon this time of year.” He’s a veteran, he knows his body. The man hasn’t missed a single rep and feels good. Remember, he had elbow surgery way back in the 2022 offseason, so any elbow chatter brings back those memories, but he only threw 25 passes on Sunday, so it wasn’t an insane workload. His full practice participation? That tells you everything you need to know about his immediate health.

Garrett’s Return, Plus Other Injury Updates

The Rams got more good news, even if it was for a player not on their roster! Outside linebacker Myles Garrett, from another team, returned to practice as a limited participant for the first time since his mid-September arthroscopic knee surgery. He’d played 40 snaps in the season opener before going under the knife, and he was given a six-week prognosis. He’s now missed seven games, so his limited return is definitely a step forward for his squad. Fun fact from the source: it was “the first practice and Garrett and Aaron Donald have had together.” Elsewhere, the Rams were still without cornerback Jaylen Watson, who’s dealing with a shoulder issue, and long snapper Joe Cardona, who has an ankle problem.

So, while we’re waiting for more updates on those two, the big takeaway is seeing Stafford back out there, shaking off the “soreness” and getting a full workload. That’s the kind of stability you need from your signal-caller in the heart of the season.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.