Matthew Stafford’s back issues are raising red flags, especially with the Los Angeles Rams facing a grueling early-season slate. The 36-year-old quarterback missed Monday’s practice due to back discomfort, fueling concern from former Packers QB Matt Hasselbeck.
On The Colin Cowherd Show, Hasselbeck spoke candidly about Stafford’s injury. Drawing from his own experience with a serious back injury back in 2008, he explained that when a player is sent to see a specialist—like Dr. Bob Watkins in California—it often means the issue is serious.
He noted, “I’m concerned about Stafford’s back,” adding that missed reps and limited offseason training can leave a quarterback far from peak form by Week 1.
Los Angeles Rams, Matthew Stafford
Jun 3, 2025; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“But no I’m concerned. I’m definitely concerned if you take the factors of his age, all those types of things … The closest thing I could equate it to, is if you burn your mouth on a hot piece of pizza, and it doesn’t get better quick. And that’s kind of what the back injury typically is … Even if they do get better, you’ve missed all this time of like heavy weight training or physicality that goes into your offseason, and you’re just not the version of yourself that you normally are. So I’d be very concerned if I was Rams fan right now.”
Stafford sat out practice, choosing instead to focus on getting his body right. He spent part of the day inside a high-tech wellness chamber, the kind athletes use to help speed up recovery and keep them performing at their best.
Last year, the Rams went 10–7, topping the NFC West before bowing out in the wild-card round. This season’s opening stretch won’t be any easier—with tough matchups against the Eagles, 49ers, and Ravens right out of the gate. Whether Stafford is ready to go could make all the difference between a hot start and an uphill battle.
Rams fans will be hoping Stafford bounces back quickly—because if he’s not fully healthy, this early stretch could get ugly.
Los Angeles Rams, Matthew Stafford
Dec 1, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws against New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young (99) during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Chris Broussard slams Matthew Stafford’s Tier 1 ranking alongside NFL Elite
Quarterback rankings have stirred the pot. An article from The Athletic recently placed Matthew Stafford in the top tier—alongside elite passers like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow. But longtime NFL analyst Chris Broussard isn’t buying it. Speaking on First Things First, he pushed back hard: “Stafford is a very good quarterback; he should not be Tier 1—especially at 37 and coming off a bad back.”
Broussard noted that over the past three seasons, Stafford has posted a 22–18 record—hardly the kind of dominance you expect from a so-called Tier 1 quarterback.
He wondered if just “coming close” is really enough to put Stafford in the same league as Mahomes or Burrow. The debate shows that things like staying healthy, performing at a high level every week, and holding up against the wear and tear of age still carry a lot of weight when deciding who truly belongs among the NFL’s best—even for a quarterback who’s already lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
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Jul 16, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Matthew Stafford on the red carpet before the ESPYS at The Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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