Matthew Stafford’s second day of apply lacked the anticipation and drama of the primary.
However Tuesday’s efficiency was a milestone nonetheless for the star quarterback and a Rams staff with designs on a Tremendous Bowl title.
The most important takeaway: Stafford’s injured again responded positively to Monday’s one-hour exercise, enabling the Seventeenth-year professional to play with much more confidence because the Rams put together for his or her Sept. 7 opener in opposition to the Houston Texans.
“The truth is we’re making an attempt to get our arms on this and get him to really feel nearly as good as potential,” coach Sean McVay mentioned. “Backs generally is a unstable factor. That is undoubtedly constructive progress. … It actually is trending in a constructive path for us.”
Stafford, 37, had been sidelined for the reason that begin of coaching camp due to what McVay has described as an aggravated disc. McVay has mentioned that Stafford obtained an epidural injection just a few weeks in the past, however on Tuesday he declined to specify if he had obtained one other.
Stafford was not made out there to reporters.
Rams gamers welcomed the return of a quarterback who ranks among the many NFL’s prime 10 in a number of profession passing classes.
“Any time that man walks right into a huddle, he simply brings presence,” veteran proper sort out Rob Havenstein mentioned Tuesday. “So it’s nice to see him on the market doing his factor.”
Stafford has loads of expertise. However “repetition is the mom of studying,” McVay mentioned, so Stafford’s potential to learn coverages, really feel the go rush and escape a collapsing pocket at full pace in apply helps him proceed to develop.
“I don’t care whether or not you’re Matthew Stafford, whether or not you’re Steph Curry — whoever you’re,” McVay mentioned. “These guys get nice at their sports activities by having the ability to play it.”
So McVay is keen for Stafford to take as many reps as potential earlier than the opener.
“I’ll be identical to, I feel, a whole lot of followers and a whole lot of his teammates and coaches,” McVay mentioned, “that you simply’re actually hopeful that that is the path … so we are able to construct basis and permit him to be the Matthew that we’re accustomed to seeing.”
And many others.
Left sort out Alaric Jackson, who’s coping with blood clot points, continues to do particular person work with trainers. “His focus and focus is being able to go for Week 1,” McVay mentioned, “and that might be an ideal scenario for us if that’s the case.” … Receiver Davante Adams had a veterans day without work from apply.