Times have gotten strange for former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. The No. 1 overall pick for the Lions in the 2009 draft, Stafford served as Detroit’s franchise signal caller through the 2010s before he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams after the 2020 season.
While Stafford’s second act includes winning a Super Bowl in 2021, the last few years have been anything but smooth as he battled injury in 2022 and his performance tailed off in the second half of the 2024 season. But nothing compares to the events of this offseason, which took another significant turn over the weekend.
Asked to confirm that Matthew Stafford (back) worked out today as scheduled, a Rams spokesperson declined to comment and said Sean McVay would address the situation on Monday
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) August 16, 2025
Matthew Stafford’s Back Injury Is Getting Serious for the Rams
Stafford has been dealing with a back injury this season and his recovery hasn’t been a clean process. With his return to the field pushed back several times, the 37-year-old was scheduled to undergo a workout this week, but Adam Grosbard of the LA Daily News found out it may not have gone as planned.
Grosbard posted on X Saturday evening that he had asked a team spokesperson to confirm that Stafford worked out. According to Grosbard, the spokesperson declined to comment and said that head coach Sean McVay would address the situation on Monday.
The ominous update is the latest chapter in a strange offseason for Stafford. The Rams gave Stafford permission to talk to other teams this offseason as he looked to secure more money on his contract, but the two sides agreed on a deal for Stafford to remain in Los Angeles for his fifth season with the Rams.
Unfortunately, Stafford is working through an aggravated disc that has prevented him from working out with the team. According to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, Stafford went through a workout that included more than 60 passes before the Rams’ preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 9 and the plan was for him to practice this week. But Stafford never returned to the field, leading to what was supposed to be his second workout this weekend.
The news throws the Rams into a panic. Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has starting experience, but he also drew the ire of new receiver and former Lions rival Davante Adams for too many hospital balls during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams could also turn to trading for Kirk Cousins, who worked with Sean McVay during his time with the Washington Commanders, but the Atlanta Falcons have been hard to negotiate with after giving him a four-year, $180 million contract in the spring of 2024.
Regardless, this is entertainment for the Lions as they prepare for this season. Jared Goff has turned into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since coming to Detroit in the Stafford trade and Detroit will look to go where Stafford could never lead them in 2025.