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Following the Los Angeles Rams' Week 8 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Matthew Stafford was observed with ice wrapped around his right elbow. However, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport indicated on The Pat McAfee Show on November 3 that there is no significant cause for alarm. "I haven't heard anything to have me believe that Stafford won't be ready," Rapoport stated. "I would expect him to be good to go unless there's other information that I don't know, which does happen."
Even with Rapoport's optimistic outlook, the situation remains somewhat unclear. Rams head coach Sean McVay offered limited details on November 2, telling reporters, "He's had some soreness there. I think he'd be better equipped, once you guys talk to him, to answer that. I can't attest to stuff that I'm not necessarily aware of." Stafford is still expected to speak with the media during his usual Wednesday availability, which is a positive indication in itself.
Myles Garrett's Recovery: A Waiting Game
Stafford is not the only injury concern for the Rams. Rapoport was also queried about the status of Myles Garrett, who has been sidelined since Week 1 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and being placed on injured reserve. Rapoport described Garrett's situation as "interesting," noting, "I thought he was coming back last week. Just didn't get to a point where he could feel comfortable enough on the knee. So, it was like, 'All right, don't rush it. Stretch run. Be ready this week.' I was told, when he gets on the field for practice, that it should all happen very quick. So, I think this week is in play, but we need to see how he actually responds. But I think it's, finally after like two months, in a pretty good place."
McVay addressed the team's deliberate approach with Garrett after the Rams opened his 21-day practice window but chose not to set any firm expectations. "I want to be careful to even make set any sort of expectations. I think just taking it a day at a time is going to be the best way that we can approach it; I think that's the right thing for him, and really just to see how he responds," McVay said. "But I think it's a real positive that we're starting his clock." The Rams have yet to see Garrett record a counting stat since acquiring him this offseason.
Schedule Quirks Add to Challenges
Compounding matters for Stafford, Garrett, and the Rams is an unusual scheduling situation that goes beyond their Week 1 trip to Australia to face the 49ers. Kelly Stafford, Matthew's wife, expressed her frustration in a video on her Instagram story on November 3. "I had to take a second off my workout because I keep getting updates and words like, 'Oh, well, after the bye week, they'll be back. After the bye week, he'll be healthy.' Not for the Rams though, because they didn't get a bye week," she said. "And if you're new to the NFL, a bye week is when they have the week off. So, if they play Sunday, then they don't play the next Sunday, then they play the Sunday after that. It's a lot of time. It's good, it's good for teams, right? We can get people back who are injured. I'm confused on how we forgot to give us a bye week. If you guys want to go look at the schedule and show me where there is a bye week—where there are 14 days in between games—I'd be ecstatic. But doesn't exist. Thanks, NFL!"
Kelly Stafford also shared two other posts to her Instagram story: one noting that the Rams' bye was "still loading" and another pointing out that Stafford is in his 18th NFL season. The Rams do have a bye in Week 11, but they will have only 10 days off between their Week 10 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals—who defeated Los Angeles in Week 6—and their Week 12 showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
Originally reported by yahoo.