Rams QB Matthew Stafford played through broken ribs, wife says

[Corbin]

Stafford finished year with broken ribs, wife says

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford cracked four ribs in Week 15 and played with the injury through Los Angeles' divisional round loss to Philadelphia, his wife, Kelly, said on her podcast.

www.espn.com

• 
  
  Sarah BarshopJan 22, 2025, 02:46 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was playing through a rib injury late in the season after cracking four ribs in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, his wife, Kelly, said on her podcast.

"He cracked four ribs," Kelly Stafford said on "Timeout," which was released Wednesday. "But just didn't really let anyone in to know really much about it. Continued his everyday process like nothing was wrong, would come home and be miserable."

The quarterback aggravated the injury in the Rams' divisional round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and acknowledged after the game that he had been dealing with it "to a varying degree for some time." Stafford said he "was able to kind of calm it down" and "didn't feel like it was much of a factor" against the Eagles.

Stafford said after the loss that he would take time to decide whether he will retire or continue his NFL career.

​

Rams coach Sean McVay said Stafford hurt his rib early against the Eagles, calling him "dinged up."

"But he is a warrior. He's so tough," McVay said. "He represents so many things that are right about what this team became, especially for a city that's hurting and going through some different stuff [the wildfires that struck Los Angeles this month].

"I think he epitomizes a lot of the stuff that's right at him in terms of toughness, resilience, ability to overcome adversity. He's a total freaking stud. And I thought he was outstanding tonight with the opportunities that he was given. ... I'm sure damn proud of Matthew Stafford."

Stafford never appeared on the injury report following Week 15 and only missed practice time as a coach's decision after the Rams had clinched the NFC West. He completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.

 

[Corbin]

....Annnnndd once again this is why you pay top dollar to keep a Backup like Jimmy Bluepill.

 

[Memento]

....Annnnndd once again this is why you pay top dollar to keep a Backup like Jimmy Bluepill.

Or draft a quarterback high. Not a Stetson Bennett game-manager type either; someone you can really build on for the future.

Stafford is a fucking warrior, though, no question.

 

[Corbin]

Or draft a quarterback high. Not a Stetson Bennett game-manager type either; someone you can really build on for the future.

Stafford is a fucking warrior, though, no question.

Yep we can draft everything we need this draft high, especially in a poor QB draft.

It's not like we don't have salary cap this year.

 

[Memento]

Yep we can draft everything we need this draft high, especially in a poor QB draft.

It's not like we don't have salary cap this year.

It's not like next draft is guaranteed outside of Arch Manning. Remember that this was supposed to be a fairly strong quarterback class before it wasn't.

 

[Corbin]

It's not like next draft is guaranteed outside of Arch Manning. Remember that this was supposed to be a fairly strong quarterback class before it wasn't.

No it wasn't supposed to be a strong QB class. Whatever sources you always get your college info from regardless if it's your guessing as you say is generally pretty inaccurate.

And next season is undetermined just like the 2024 draft was.

 

[Memento]

No it wasn't supposed to be a strong QB class. Whatever sources you always get your college info from regardless if it's your guessing as you say is generally pretty inaccurate.

And next season is undetermined just like the 2024 draft was.

Carson Beck, Shadeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, Drew Allar, and Jalen Milroe? That wasn't supposed to be strong coming into the 2024/2025 season? Not as strong as 2024, of course, but potentially five quarterbacks who could likely have placed in the first round at the start of the year. That was at the start of the year; you can look that up. Not even mentioning Jaxson Dart or Conner Wiegman.

Of course, it didn't turn out the way we had hoped. 2026 might not turn out the way we hope either, Arch Manning aside. It's a poor class of quarterbacks at the top in this year, but there's quite a few developmental prospects that could be worth taking a shot on, like McCord or Ewers in the mid third.

 

[Ellard80]

The way people write for click bait now is so fucking nauseating.

He clearly stated in his last interview he still thinks he has good call left in him - in no way did he say anything about retiring.

 

[majrleaged]

Stafford finished year with broken ribs, wife says

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford cracked four ribs in Week 15 and played with the injury through Los Angeles' divisional round loss to Philadelphia, his wife, Kelly, said on her podcast.

www.espn.com

• 
  
  Sarah BarshopJan 22, 2025, 02:46 PM ET

LOS ANGELES -- Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was playing through a rib injury late in the season after cracking four ribs in Week 15 against the San Francisco 49ers, his wife, Kelly, said on her podcast.

"He cracked four ribs," Kelly Stafford said on "Timeout," which was released Wednesday. "But just didn't really let anyone in to know really much about it. Continued his everyday process like nothing was wrong, would come home and be miserable."

The quarterback aggravated the injury in the Rams' divisional round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and acknowledged after the game that he had been dealing with it "to a varying degree for some time." Stafford said he "was able to kind of calm it down" and "didn't feel like it was much of a factor" against the Eagles.

Stafford said after the loss that he would take time to decide whether he will retire or continue his NFL career.

​

Rams coach Sean McVay said Stafford hurt his rib early against the Eagles, calling him "dinged up."

"But he is a warrior. He's so tough," McVay said. "He represents so many things that are right about what this team became, especially for a city that's hurting and going through some different stuff [the wildfires that struck Los Angeles this month].

"I think he epitomizes a lot of the stuff that's right at him in terms of toughness, resilience, ability to overcome adversity. He's a total freaking stud. And I thought he was outstanding tonight with the opportunities that he was given. ... I'm sure damn proud of Matthew Stafford."

Stafford never appeared on the injury report following Week 15 and only missed practice time as a coach's decision after the Rams had clinched the NFC West. He completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.

And now we know why he seemed off at the end of the regular season. Not old just to many hits.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Yup, the last few games he didn't look like himself much, and this is why.

 

[dpjax]

Is this something the team can be penalized for, not reporting an injury?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Carson Beck, Shadeur Sanders, Quinn Ewers, Drew Allar, and Jalen Milroe? That wasn't supposed to be strong coming into the 2024/2025 season? Not as strong as 2024, of course, but potentially five quarterbacks who could likely have placed in the first round at the start of the year. That was at the start of the year; you can look that up. Not even mentioning Jaxson Dart or Conner Wiegman.

Of course, it didn't turn out the way we had hoped. 2026 might not turn out the way we hope either, Arch Manning aside. It's a poor class of quarterbacks at the top in this year, but there's quite a few developmental prospects that could be worth taking a shot on, like McCord or Ewers in the mid third.

I personally wouldn't call that a strong draft class at all. That's not to say there aren't any QBs that will surprise but simply makes it harder to get a good one in this draft. Most seem to be projects.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

And now we know why he seemed off at the end of the regular season. Not old just to many hits.

Tells me we need to make sure our o-line stays intact or we improve it. Stafford is too important to have dinged up like that. It is football though so shit does happen.

 

[Memento]

I personally wouldn't call that a strong draft class at all. That's not to say there aren't any QBs that will surprise but simply makes it harder to get a good one in this draft. Most seem to be projects.

I meant at the beginning of the season. It wasn't at 2024's level, but it looked to be a decent enough class. Now we know that it's a much weaker class (and not just at quarterback), but that doesn't mean that you can't find value later on in the draft when it comes to the quarterback position.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I meant at the beginning of the season. It wasn't at 2024's level, but it looked to be a decent enough class. Now we know that it's a much weaker class (and not just at quarterback), but that doesn't mean that you can't find value later on in the draft when it comes to the quarterback position.

I see, got ya. I personally wasn't a fan at the beginning of the year but that's just my personal opinion.

 

[methomas50]

Nothing but love and respect for Matthew. I have seen every Ram QB back to Gabriel's MVP season and i think he the most talented and tough as any of em.

 

[Classic Rams]

Yikes a few posters were saying he didn't look himself at the end there may be because of some injury he won't reveal. Turned out to be correct though. Must've been on one of the plays in the whiner game where he was wincing in pain. Can't imagine the pain of just breathing with 4 cracked ribs. I guess the padding didn't really protect him like you'd figure it would.

I remember the flak jacket that Pastorini wore in 1978 was the first of its kind and the creator made bank selling it after Dan tried it out. I picture someone hitting it with a baseball bat while it was worn.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

He’s one tough SOB

 

[Spider2YB]

Yup, the last few games he didn't look like himself much, and this is why.

I was worried it was his elbow, which was something that gave him trouble in ‘21 and ‘22. Kinda relieved it was his ribs tbh.

 

[Stl2La]

Is this something the team can be penalized for, not reporting an injury?

No we should be fine. Found this:

“Practice reports must list any player with a reportable injury and their level of participation in practice, even if a player takes all reps during the week. A reportable injury is considered any injury that causes a player to miss a game, prevents them from finishing a game, or prevents them from completing their normal practice workload.”