Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had to leave an extensive practice session with the Dallas Cowboys due to tightness in his hamstring, as confirmed by a team spokesperson. The 36-year-old Stafford missed a portion of the practice but was observed on the sidelines in full gear and did not exhibit any visible signs of distress during or after the two-hour session.
The Rams’ offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, expressed confidence in Stafford’s abilities, emphasizing the importance of every rep for the seasoned player despite the setback caused by the hamstring tightness.
In Stafford’s absence, Jimmy Garoppolo took over the first-team offense, a valuable opportunity for Garoppolo, who sat out the preseason opener against the Cowboys and is expected to miss the upcoming two exhibition games due to suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers.
Stetson Bennett stepped in for Garoppolo during practice with the second-string players after a notable performance where he threw four interceptions but later led a crucial touchdown drive against the Cowboys. Head Coach Sean McVay indicated that Bennett needs to demonstrate more consistent performance to secure the backup position behind Stafford for the upcoming games against the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals.
Although Bennett’s turnovers are an area of improvement, LaFleur acknowledged the positives in Bennett’s practice performance and noted the significance of the opportunities to practice against a competitive defense like that of the Cowboys.