Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford experienced some tightness in his hamstring and had to sit out the latter part of Wednesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys, according to a team official. During the second half of the practice, backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett took over in his absence, while Stafford, 36, observed from the sidelines.
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur commented on Stafford’s situation, acknowledging the value of every rep for the veteran quarterback, despite his extensive experience. LaFleur noted that Stafford’s tightness was unfortunate, but reassured that Stafford operates at a top-tier level.
Following Stafford’s exit, Garoppolo, who joined the Rams in March as Stafford’s backup, stepped in to work with the first-team offense. LaFleur emphasized the importance of these opportunities, especially against a strong defense like the Cowboys’. Garoppolo is unlikely to see much action during preseason games due to his two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
Stetson Bennett also took snaps, coming off a challenging first preseason game where he threw four interceptions but managed to lead a last-minute touchdown drive. LaFleur mentioned that while Bennett needs to address the turnovers, there were positive aspects to his performance in practice.
Stafford was initially scheduled to speak to the media after practice, but the press conference was canceled. Rams head coach Sean McVay did not address the media on Wednesday. Last season, Stafford completed 62.6% of his passes, throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 15 games.
