Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will start Week 1 against the Houston Texans, per coach Sean McVay. The veteran QB had been dealing with a back injury that limited him during training camp, and he did not appear in any preseason contests.
Stafford, 37, is getting ready to enter his 17th season in the league and his fifth with the Rams. He led LA to the Divisional Round of the playoffs this past season, where it lost against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Specifically, it was an aggravated disc that sidelined Stafford for much of training camp. However, he returned to practice on Aug. 18 and was upgraded to a full participant on Aug. 21.
Last season, Stafford played in 16 games during the regular season and finished with 3,762 yards passing and 20 touchdowns to eight interceptions. He also played 15 games the year prior in 2023 and the Rams will be counting on his durability again this season.
Stafford will be without one of his familiar targets when the Rams kick off the season, as Cooper Kupp was released this offseason and signed with the Seattle Seahawks. However, LA also brought in veteran receiver Davante Adams and returns leading pass catcher Puka Nacua.
That in mind, there’s a lot to look forward to out of the passing game if Stafford can remain healthy throughout this season. Kickoff for the game against the Texans is set for 4:25 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Report: Los Angeles Rams view Arch Manning as target for potential Matthew Stafford succession plan
Although Matthew Stafford chose to return to the Los Angeles Rams this year despite trade rumors, the franchise could be preparing for its own future. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson, Texas quarterback Arch Manning is one of the most notable names to come up.
Robinson reported the Rams view Manning as the only Tier 1 quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, should he decide to declare. The anticipation continues to build ahead of his first year as the Texas quarterback following Quinn Ewers’ departure, and the draft rumors continue to persist as a result.
According to Robinson, the Rams view Manning’s ceiling to be similar to Josh Allen because of his athleticism and strength. Los Angeles also has two first-round picks this year, which is why the idea of a “succession plan” could make sense.
Stafford signed a two-year, $84 million contract to return to the Rams in 2025. Even if he comes back for the final year of that deal in 2026, Robinson reported the Rams could opt to put Manning on a path similar to Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes famously sat behind Alex Smith with the Kansas City Chiefs before taking over as the full-time starter, winning three Super Bowls since doing so in 2018. Robinson reported Stafford would be “open” to such a plan.
On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.
