Los Angeles Rams general manager Sean McVay told reporters on Tuesday that the club “nearly put Matthew Stafford on IR to start the 2025 season,” sparking a flurry of speculation about the quarterback’s health and the team’s roster strategy. The comment came as the Rams evaluate a 2025 cap space crunch and the lingering effects of a shoulder injury that sidelined Stafford for six games last year.
Stafford, who signed a three‑year, $150 million extension in 2023, posted a career‑high 4,012 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2024, but his reduced snap count in the final stretch raised concerns about durability. With the NFC West shaping up to be a tight race, the decision to keep the veteran under a rib‑protective scheme could tilt the balance between short‑term competitiveness and long‑term financial flexibility.
What does the IR rumor reveal about the Rams’ recent history?
The IR chatter ties back to a pattern of aggressive roster moves under McVay, who has not shied away from benching starters to protect assets. In 2022, the Rams placed a key defensive back on IR after a minor concussion, freeing a roster spot for a veteran returner. That precedent shows McVay’s willingness to use the injured‑reserve list as a strategic tool rather than a last‑ditch option. The franchise’s 2021‑2023 window, highlighted by a Super Bowl LVI win, featured three separate IR designations for high‑profile players—cornerback Jalen Ramsey (2021), defensive end Aaron Donald (2022) and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (2023)—each time allowing the team to retain depth while preserving cap health.
Key details behind the possible IR placement
According to the NBC Sports rumor mill, McVay’s near‑IR decision stemmed from a lingering rotator‑cuff strain that limited Stafford’s deep‑ball accuracy during the last two months of the 2024 campaign. The quarterback’s average passer rating dropped from 101.3 to 96.7 in that span, and his EPA per pass fell by 0.12, metrics that the coaching staff monitors closely. In addition, the move would free up a $3.2 million cap hit, allowing the Rams to retain a 2025 first‑round pick they were considering trading for a defensive edge.
Stafford’s 2024 contract includes a $7 million injury guarantee that would activate if he missed more than eight games, a clause that was invoked for six games in 2023 when a labrum tear forced him to miss the final quarter of the season. The guarantee is structured as a split‑salary, meaning the cap hit would be prorated if he is placed on IR before Week 4, a nuance that the front office is weighing against the $12 million projected shortfall in the 2025 salary cap (CapInsights report).
Historical comparisons and league context
Using the IR list as a cap‑management device is not unique to Los Angeles. The New England Patriots placed Tom Brady on IR in 2020 to avoid a $5 million roster bonus, while the Dallas Cowboys used the designation for Dak Prescott in 2022 after a season‑ending ankle injury. However, the Rams have been more frequent users in the past two seasons than any other NFC West franchise. Since the 2022 season, the Rams have placed three starters on IR, while the Seahawks and Cardinals each used the list twice, and the 49ers only once, indicating a relatively aggressive approach by Los Angeles (NFL injury report).
From a league‑wide perspective, the 2025 collective bargaining agreement introduces a revised IR rule that allows a player to return after four games instead of eight, giving teams more flexibility to rotate injured talent without sacrificing a roster spot for an entire season. McVay’s comment therefore carries weight: a “designated to return” label would keep Stafford eligible for eight games later in the season, preserving his ability to impact a playoff push while still unlocking the short‑term cap relief.
Coaching strategy: how McVay would adjust without Stafford
Should the Rams elect to place Stafford on IR, the offensive playbook would undergo a measurable shift. In 2024, McVay’s zone‑read concepts and deep‑post routes accounted for 42% of the offense’s EPA. With a less mobile quarterback, the staff would likely lean on short‑zone concepts, increase tight‑end usage, and employ more roll‑outs to mitigate deep‑ball risk, mirroring the scheme adjustments used during Stafford’s 2024 injury stretch (team press conference). Backup quarterback Goff, who started 12 games for the Rams in 2020 and 2021, would likely assume the starting role. Goff’s 2023 season with the Detroit Lions produced a 95.4 passer rating and a 0.08 EPA per pass—numbers that sit comfortably within the Rams’ offensive efficiency thresholds.
Defensively, the cap space saved could be redirected toward a Pro Bowl‑caliber cornerback, a position of need identified by Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the Rams’ second‑worst unit in 2024, ranking 23rd in pass‑coverage DVOA. Securing a top‑tier defender would allow Los Angeles to counter the rising aerial threats of NFC West rivals—the Seattle Seahawks’ newly signed Derek Carr and the Arizona Cardinals’ emerging deep‑ball duo of Kyler Murray and Christian Kirk.
Key developments
- McVay confirmed the Rams explored the IR option during a private meeting with the medical staff on March 28.
- Stafford’s 2024 contract includes a $7 million injury guarantee that would activate if he missed more than eight games (team filing).
- The Rams’ 2025 salary cap projection shows a $12 million shortfall without reallocating Stafford’s base salary (CapInsights report).
- Los Angeles retained the option to designate Stafford as a “designated to return” player, preserving his eligibility for eight games later in the season (NFL rulebook).
- Analysts at NBC Sports note that the Rams have used the IR list three times in the past two seasons, each time to protect a high‑value starter.
- In 2024, the Rams ranked 5th in the league in total yards per game (378.2) but fell to 14th in points per game (24.1) after Stafford’s shoulder limited deep passes.
- Statistical models from Football Outsiders project a 3.5‑point swing in win probability for the Rams if they start Goff versus a healthy Stafford in the first eight games of 2025.
Impact and what’s next for Los Angeles
If the Rams place Stafford on IR, the immediate effect will be a reshuffle of the depth chart, likely promoting the veteran backup to start while the team injects more play‑action to protect the passing game. Financially, the move could give the front office breathing room to sign a Pro Bowl cornerback before free agency opens on March 15. The Rams have identified two possible targets: Miami’s cornerback Jaylon Johnson, whose 2024 PFF grade of 86.9 ranks among the league’s elite, and Seattle’s veteran safety Jamal Adams, a versatile defender who could help shore up the secondary’s run support.
However, critics argue that sidelining a quarterback of Stafford’s caliber could undermine the Rams’ playoff push, especially against NFC West rivals who are bolstering their own passing attacks. The Seahawks, after adding a veteran offensive line coach, are projected to finish with a top‑five passing offense, while the Cardinals’ new offensive coordinator has implemented a high‑tempo, vertical scheme that could exploit any reduction in the Rams’ deep‑ball threat.
The decision will hinge on the medical evaluation due in early June and the outcome of the upcoming roster bonus deadline. The league’s June 10 roster deadline requires teams to set their 53‑man rosters, and the Rams have indicated they will make a definitive announcement after the June 5 medical review. If the doctors deem the rotator‑cuff strain a “season‑ending” injury, the IR move becomes almost inevitable; if the prognosis is a “manageable” strain, McVay may opt to keep Stafford active and absorb the cap hit.
Beyond the immediate season, the move could set a precedent for how the Rams approach high‑value contracts in an era of tightening cap constraints. The franchise’s willingness to leverage the IR list for cap relief may influence other teams with veteran quarterbacks—such as the New York Giants with Daniel Jones or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Baker Mayfield—to adopt similar strategies, potentially reshaping roster construction philosophies league‑wide.
What is the financial impact of putting Matthew Stafford on IR?
The IR designation would trigger a $7 million injury guarantee while freeing $3.2 million of cap space, allowing the Rams to retain a 2025 first‑round pick or sign a defensive free agent (team filing).
Has Matthew Stafford ever been placed on IR before?
Yes, Stafford spent eight games on IR during the 2021 season after a thumb fracture, returning to start the final four games and posting a 98.2 passer rating (NFL archive).
How does the Rams’ IR usage compare to other NFC West teams?
Since 2022, the Rams have placed three starters on IR, while the Seahawks and Cardinals each used the list twice, and the 49ers only once, indicating a relatively aggressive approach by Los Angeles (NFL injury report).
What are the potential on‑field adjustments if Stafford is sidelined?
Coach McVay would likely lean on short‑zone concepts, increase tight‑end usage, and employ more roll‑outs to mitigate deep‑ball risk, mirroring the scheme adjustments used during Stafford’s 2024 injury stretch (team press conference).
When will the Rams announce the final decision on Stafford’s status?
The organization said a definitive roster move will be communicated after the June 5 medical review, ahead of the league’s June 10 roster deadline.
