Matthew Stafford played nearly 16 NFL seasons, taking hits that resulted in broken bones, strains, sprains and bruises. Has the Rams quarterback played a full season without injury?
“No,” Stafford said with a chuckle Wednesday.
Stafford, 36, showed resilience and toughness during 12 seasons in Detroit and three-plus with the Rams. And he’ll do it again this week as the Rams prepare for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.
During the second quarter of last Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints, Stafford suffered a right ankle sprain when he was taken to the ground while throwing a pass. He limped after that play and shook his leg after the next play, but stayed in the game and passed for two second-half touchdowns in the 21–14 win, which improved the Rams’ record to 6–6.
Read more: Matthew Stafford suffers a lateral ankle sprain and Rams add former first-round pick
Before practice Wednesday, Stafford said his ankle felt “pretty good” and that he would be “good to go” against the Bills. He took part in all the exercises during the practice portion open to reporters without apparent discomfort.
Earlier this season, Stafford suffered back soreness after a Week 5 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Solving small and large problems is part of the job.
“Ideally, you’d like to try to get through it as best you can, but I think everyone here is dealing with something at some point,” he said, “and it’s just a matter of whether or not you can play with it . And how good can you get feeling before Sunday?
“So I don’t have any new problem with practicing and playing on Sundays.”
Stafford has passed for 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions. In the last three games – wins over the New England Patriots and the Saints and a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles – he has passed for eight touchdowns.
Now he faces the Bills, one of three teams he has never beaten. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans are others.
Two years ago, in the season opener against the Bills, Stafford completed 29 of 41 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, with three interceptions, in a 31-10 loss to the Bills. He was sacked seven times and hit 16 times.
The loss set the tone for the defending Super Bowl champion Rams’ losing season, the worst post-championship hangover in NFL history.
“I didn’t play well enough… at any stage really,” he said.
Read more: Rams takeaways: Offense finally takes off behind a running Saints attack
Last Sunday, the Bills improved to 10-2 and clinched their fifth consecutive AFC East title with a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive players Greg Rousseau and AJ Epenesa have 6½ and five sacks, respectively, and outside linebacker Von Miller has four. Bills quarterback Josh Allen has scored 20 touchdowns, including five interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 237-pound Allen has also rushed for six touchdowns.
“It’s unbelievable what he’s capable of,” Stafford said of the seventh-year pro. “I remember him jumping over linebackers in Minnesota [in 2018]do all kinds of things. He is as physically talented as any quarterback runner I have seen.
‘He does it a little differently, doesn’t he? A big, physical guy, but he can still get away from you and run. He has made some throws over the years that are as impressive as they come.”
Etc.
Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., a 2023 first-round pick who claimed waivers from the Washington Commanders, practiced for the first time. He’s not likely to play against the Bills, coach Sean McVay said. Forbes said he’s looking forward to learning the playbook. “It’s part of business,” he said of the commanders’ decision to part with him. “I wish it didn’t happen like that, but it did. A fresh start here and a clean slate. I’m just ready to take advantage of it.” … Tight end Tyler Higbee, returning from knee and shoulder surgeries, continues to practice. McVay said it was “possible” Higbee would play Sunday. “We’re taking it one day at a time and seeing what that looks like,” McVay said. Receiver Cooper Kupp did not practice because he was given a veteran’s rest day, according to the injury report. Offensive lineman Alaric Jackson (foot) did not practice, and receiver Demarcus Robinson (hand) was limited.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
