Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s elbow injury might last all season

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford may not be ready for the upcoming season, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Stafford is currently dealing with an elbow injury after he dealt with lingering elbow pain throughout the offseason and eventually had to stop throwing in February.

Both the Rams and Stafford were downplaying the issue last Summer while cutting down his practice sessions. According to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, the team said the injury was “a tricky deal.”

Rams head coach Sean McVay declined to call Stafford’s elbow issue “tendinitis” and instead noted that “it’s a tricky deal,” “abnormal for a QB” and “things that MLB pitchers deal with” and that the team is learning more about “on the fly.”

“Stafford looked great in limited reps today,” Rodrigue said on Twitter.

Stafford earlier insisted that his injury was not a problem, and he still could use his arm however he wanted.

“I don’t know if you guys were watching, I felt like I could make any throw I wanted to today,” Stafford said on August. “I’m just trying to be smart when I get those opportunities to make sure I can come out here, cut it loose, turn it loose like I did today and go from there.”

Meanwhile, Graziano was adamant that Stafford’s elbow issue could not be understated, knowing that the injury is in the quarterback’s throwing arm.

“The level of precision required to succeed at that position in the NFL is so high that even the slightest problem (one that affects the placement of the throw by 2 or 3 inches),  could be enough to turn a great year into a so-so year,” said Graziano.

As Stafford is usually required to make more than 40 throws in one game, his injury could worsen if he plays in the upcoming match against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.