Latest news with #MatthewStafford
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Davante Adams didn't expect to get No. 17, planned to play in different number for Rams
Davante Adams got lucky when he joined the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. While he's always played in the No. 17 jersey, Adams knew when he signed with the Rams that he'd likely have to pick a new number because he didn't think Puka Nacua would change his. Adams also told ESPN's Scott Kaplan & Beto Duran this week during training camp that he wasn't going to pay Nacua for the number. So, Adams planned to wear No. 7 when he joined the Rams as an homage to NFL legend Mike Vick. "Honestly, I wasn't even concerned with getting the number because it wasn't a thought of mine that he was going to be gracious enough or me be bully enough to try to do that," Adams said. "And I definitely wasn't about to be dishing out, you know, 100 grand for a number. It wasn't that serious. So I was already starting to prep in my mind and figure out what number I was going to wear. "I was gonna put seven because I was a big Mike Vick fan when I was growing up and the one year I did play Pop Warner I was No. 7." Fortunately for Adams, Nacua's representation reached out soon after the veteran signed with L.A. to let him know that Nacua planned to switch to No. 12, which left No. 17 now open for Adams. Everything worked out well for both sides in the end. Adams got the number he's played in his entire career, and Nacua switched to the number he always wanted to be. And now, both will get the opportunity to build on their great careers together in L.A. with Matthew Stafford under center. This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Davante Adams planned to play in a different number for Rams


USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Top 100: Rams QB Matthew Stafford is No. 59, faces Cardinals twice in 2025
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, 7-2-1 in his last 10 games against the Cardinals, is No. 59 in the 'NFL Top 100.' Top 100 Players of 2025:@RamsNFL QB Matthew Stafford is ranked No. 59 overall! @NFLFIlms The NFL began its fifth week of announcing players in the "NFL Top 100" in 2025 on Monday. This week is for revealing players Nos. 51-60. Player No. 59, revealed Monday morning, is an NFC West rival the Cardinals will face twice this season. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford comes in this year at No. 59 after being No. 42 a year ago. Multiple players spoke to his arm talent. Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson said Stafford can do things other quarterbacks can't with ball placement and "can dice a defense." Rams running back Kyren Williams said, "I'm excited that he said that he's willing to come back and play again because I really feel like we can go on a run." Stafford has played well against the Cardinals. In his last 10 games against them, he is 7-2-1, dating back to 2017. The Cardinals will face him and the Rams in Week 14 at State Farm Stadium and then close out the regular season in Week 18 at SoFi Stadium. 'NFL Top 100' opponents for Cardinals in 2025 Of the revealed players in the top 100, the Cardinals will face 16 of them in 2025. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.


USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL insider gives update on Rams' 'level of concern' with Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford still isn't practicing due to a back injury, which has left some to wonder about his status for Week 1. ESPN's Peter Schrager shared his intel on the issue during a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show. The NFL insider revealed that the Rams aren't worried that Stafford could miss Week 1 and that the team is just being cautious with their veteran starting quarterback. "I don't think there is a great level of concern as far as Matthew Stafford being ready for Week 1," he said. "I think the Rams are just being ultra cautious." This is great news for the Rams and their fans after the first week of training camp. Stafford is the key engine that will make the Rams offense run or not in 2025. He is the tide the raises all the offensive weapons, from Davante Adams and Puka Nacua to Kyren Williams and Tyler Higbee. Missing training is never a good thing, especially when there are new pieces on the roster like Adams and second-round rookie Terrance Ferguson. But Stafford is going into his 17th NFL season. He's been around the block during the offseason and has been in the Rams offense for four seasons now. The long-term concerns with Stafford's back are valid, though, and likely why the Rams are taking such a cautious approach with him. They need him for a minimum of 18 games this season to stay in contention for the NFC West and the playoffs. So until something drastic changes, Stafford's absence shouldn't be an issue until he is in serious jeopardy of missing games.


USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
See where Rams QB Matthew Stafford ranks in NFL's top-100 list
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford once again made the NFL's top-100 list, which is voted on by the players. Stafford came in at No. 59, which is 17 spots worse than he was in 2024 at No. 42. Here's what Coral Smith had to say about Stafford and hi ranking: Stafford has been playing in the NFL since some of his teammates were in elementary school, and yet the 37-year-old quarterback has shown he still has the chops to compete with the best. Though his stats took a bit of downturn from his Pro Bowl season in 2023, Stafford led the Rams back to the playoffs last season, defeating the Vikings before falling just short of taking down the eventual Super Bowl-champion Eagles in snowy conditions. Stafford's future in Los Angeles appeared murky in the early stages of this offseason as the QB put out feelers to see if moving on was the right move. But he eventually decided to stick with the Rams, taking a hometown discount to stay in Los Angeles for at least 2025, his 17th NFL season. And as head coach Sean McVay has said, if the Rams had it their way Stafford would keep on playing in L.A for a least a few more years. Matthew Stafford executed 67 designed rollouts this past season, the second-most in the NFL, completing 48 of 66 passes (72.7%) for 437 yards (second-most) and an NFL-leading nine touchdowns without a single interception. When he's healthy, Stafford is still among the best quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2024, he completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 pass yards, 20 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. As noted by the Rams' desire to retain him, Stafford is perhaps the key cog in the Rams' 2025 contention machine. The team was awful without him in 2022 and didn't have a clear succession plan for him if he didn't come back this year. Jimmy Garoppolo would be the immediate heir to the starting job if Stafford were to miss time or change teams — but that's not something the team needs to worry about at the moment. For now, Stafford is a top-60 NFL player leading one of the best offensive units in the league. That's enough to keep L.A. in the conversation for the NFC West as well as the playoffs this year.


Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Concerning update on Matthew Stafford after Rams QB missed the start of camp with recurring issue
Matthew Stafford is not reporting to Los Angeles Rams training camp when originally thought, as the team's head coach, Sean McVay, provided a further update on his star signal caller. Stafford was believed to be reporting to training camp this week with a recurring neck issue finally being solved. Yet, the timeline to see the 37-year-old in action has been moved back, while McVay says there has not been a decline in Stafford's status. 'The ultimate goal is Houston [for the season opener], and being mindful of that, so we'll take it a week at a time with him,' McVay said over the weekend. Based on sitting down with [the team's sports medicine and performance senior vice president] Reggie [Scott] and with Matthew and talking with Dr. [Robert] Watkins, we feel like that's the smart thing to do. A week at a time with him.' 'But I don't have any more concerns. The goal in mind is Houston, and I do think this is the best plan for him.' Backup Jimmy Garoppolo will run the Rams' offense in the early practices, while the Rams also added quarterback Dresser Winn to the roster. Stafford is playing this season with a substantial $44m raise after a second straight offseason of financial discontent. This dispute was resolved more quickly than last year's standoff, and Stafford participated in the Rams' offseason workout programs to begin forming a bond with new receiver Davante Adams. Stafford will eventually line up for his 17th straight season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, one of the longest streaks in the league. The Rams star is only behind Aaron Rodgers as a guaranteed QB1 in 2025, with Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco also looming as possibilities. 'It does not worry me,' McVay continued. 'What I probably should have done is say we're taking it a week at a time, but I don't have any reason to be concerned based on the information that's been given. With that being said, I don't think we can be smart enough with somebody like Matthew' 'I think it's best for him and best for our football team. That's kind of the plan we'll have moving forward. I know that will surprise people, but I did want to at least let you guys know as we're begin fluid with this. But we don't have any reason for concern, but I do think it's the smart thing just based on [getting him ready for the season opener] Sept. 7... with that being the main goal in mind.'