A360
Key Takeaways✦ Atlas AI
01
Stafford's back injury was severe.
02
IR placement was seriously considered.
03
Wellness chamber aided his return.
Atlas AI
The Los Angeles Rams seriously considered placing quarterback Matthew Stafford on injured reserve to start the 2025 NFL season, head coach Sean McVay said in a recent interview. Stafford managed a back issue that kept him out of the first month of training camp and off the practice field until August 18. His Week 1 availability remained uncertain even after he returned to practice late in camp. Ultimately, the Rams kept him on the active roster and managed his workload on a day-to-day basis.
Staff discussions weighed the benefits of removing a fixed return deadline against the competitive cost of opening the year without their No. 1 quarterback. Keeping him active allowed the staff to respond to how his back felt each day rather than committing at least four weeks to IR. Coaches remained cautious through August, but late-camp sessions gave them enough confidence to steer Stafford toward the opener.
Stafford started Week 1 and remained a steady presence throughout the season. Los Angeles opened 3-1 across the first four games, including a 14-9 win over the Houston Texans in the opener, and finished 11-6 as the No. 5 seed. Team officials viewed the early stability at quarterback as important during a tight opening stretch.
Roster calculus and IR timeline
Four-game minimum shaped the decision
Under NFL rules, a player placed on injured reserve at the start of the season must miss at least the first four games. McVay said the Rams seriously discussed that route to reduce pressure on a strict timetable while monitoring how Stafford’s back responded to treatment. The alternative was keeping him active with closely managed practice windows and daily checks.
Los Angeles chose the latter, and Stafford’s August 18 practice return set him on a path to start in Houston in Week 1. That choice avoided a forced reshuffle at quarterback and maintained continuity as the offense settled in during September.
Early results and playoff ripple
Week 1 in Houston proved pivotal
With Stafford available, the Rams banked early wins and stabilized their start. The 3-1 opening stretch included the 14-9 victory over the Texans, a result that loomed large in season-end math for both conferences.
Season reviews have noted that if Stafford had opened on IR and missed the first four games, the Rams’ final seeding could have shifted. A flipped Week 1 result in Houston, in particular, might have altered tiebreakers and wild-card matchups, even if the league’s ultimate outcome stayed the same.
Recovery approach and season management
Ammortal Chamber and ongoing back care
According to team accounts, Stafford used a high-end wellness device known as the Ammortal Chamber during training camp and again late in the year as he managed his back. Images from early August showed the chamber at the Rams’ facility, and it returned in mid-December as the team continued to support recovery work.
Staff credited a mix of unconventional recovery tools and standard treatment protocols, alongside the quarterback’s mindset, for keeping him available. The club expects to continue monitoring his back and refining recovery plans as it prepares for the next campaign.
Los Angeles will keep options open in training-room routines and quarterback contingency planning, aiming to preserve availability while maintaining competitive flexibility in 2026.
