Matthew Stafford looks poised to start the Sept. 7 season opener against the Houston Texans after returning from a back issue and completing multiple workouts without setbacks. Left tackle Alaric Jackson, sidelined by recurring blood-clot issues, will participate in full-team drills next week as he increases his workload under medical management. Jackson signed a three-year, $35 million extension in March, and the Rams added veteran D.J. Humphries in June as insurance. Jackson's availability for the opener or the season depends on his response to full practice work. Jackson previously missed eight games in 2022 due to a blood-clot issue.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears on track to start the season opener against the Houston Texans - and now perhaps his primary protector will join him in the preparation. Left tackle Alaric Jackson, who has been sidelined because of blood-clot issues in his legs, will participate in full-team drills for the first time next week, coach Sean McVay said Monday.
Whether Jackson can play in the Sept. 7 opener against the Texans, or any time this season, will be determined by how he responds to the increased workload while managing the condition. McVay and the Rams are hoping Jackson's trajectory is similar to Stafford's. Stafford, sidelined all of training camp and several weeks of practices because of a back issue, returned last week and completed three workouts and a jog-through with no setbacks. He was on the field Monday and continued to look sharp.
Having Jackson available to protect Stafford's blindside would be a plus for a Rams team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. The Rams have experience dealing with Jackson's issue. In 2022, the season of the Rams' historic post-Super Bowl collapse, Jackson sat out eight games because of a blood-clot issue. Since training camp began, Jackson has been doing individual work with trainers.
Collection
[
|
...
]