LA Rams to rest Matthew Stafford for the preseason

Over the last few years, the Los Angeles Rams have grown a reputation for taking a different approach to the NFL game. One of the main hallmarks of this approach resides in their head coach, Sean McVay. The young shot-caller has brought a new approach to leading an NFL franchise. One measure of that approach includes managing the team through the preseason. According to McVay, QB Matthew Stafford will not play one down during preseason with the Rams.

“There is zero chance you will ever see Matthew Stafford take a snap in the preseason for the Rams as long as I’m the coach. That will never happen. He is not going to play… Until you tell me that if a guy gets hurt in the preseason that we’ll get those games back or they’ll add them on the schedule afterwards as, ‘Oh yeah, you get two games because you lost those guys in the preseason,’ it’s hard for me to make sense of it.”
Sean McVay

He gave this quote during an appearance on the Doug Gottlieb Show. Along with Stafford, viewers should expect not to see other key starters during the preseason as well. These players include LT Andrew Whitworth, CB Jalen Ramsey, WR Cooper Cupp, WR Robert Woods, DT Aaron Donald, etc.

NFL Preseason Injuries

Typically, coaches would slowly implement the starters into regular playing time. Maybe a drive or two in the first preseason game and a full quarter the next. Ultimately, the process contains a slow build-up towards the regular season. However, like in any NFL game, there is a risk. The preseason games play a minimal role in the regular season that follows for all intents and purposes. The results of these games, wins or losses, are largely irrelevant. That said, the injuries that ensue during this period make for unnecessary complications.

The averages of injuries sustained during the preseason between 2016 and 2020 include 35.2 concussions, 10.4 ACL tears, and 13.8 MCL tears. While these numbers may look acceptable to most other teams, it gives coach McVay reason to tread differently.