Rams’ Matthew Stafford not thinking about retirement: ‘I enjoy playing too much to hang it up’

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is these days coping with a UCL sprain in his proper thumb, and ignored the Rams’ Week 9 matchup towards the Green Bay Packers. This marks the second one yr in a row the veteran signal-caller has had to pass over no less than one recreation due to damage, as Stafford suffered a spinal twine contusion that held him to simply 9 video games performed in 2022.

Stafford has dealt along with his fair proportion of accidents over the process his 15-year profession, and is now 35 years previous, which makes him the third-oldest beginning quarterback in the back of Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. During a Friday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Stafford was once requested why he continues to play, and if he is going to cross till the “wheels fall off.” 

“I don’t think I’ll go until the wheels completely fall off, they’re wobbling a little bit right now as we speak” Stafford joked. “I love playing this game. I love competing, I love being in the locker room with the guys. I’ll never get that again, so I want to make sure I get as many opportunities to do that as I can. I love this team, I love the city, it’s been a blast. Obviously had a bunch of success in our first year, and trying to duplicate that to either this year, next year, whenever it is. But I enjoy playing too much to hang it up.” 

The former No. 1 total pick of Georgia admitted he had a “conversation” along with his spouse about retirement this previous offseason after struggling the spinal twine damage, however after receiving assurance that the damage wasn’t going to linger, Stafford was once greater than in a position to go back to the sector.

Stafford has a bye week to relaxation up, and informed McAfee the thumb is feeling higher than he idea it would. Through 9 weeks, Stafford ranks No. 9 in passing yards in step with recreation (258.8), and has thrown 8 touchdowns in comparison to seven interceptions in 8 video games performed. Stafford these days ranks No. 11 at the NFL’s all-time passing record with 54,152 profession passing yards. He is slightly below 3,000 yards clear of changing Eli Manning within the most sensible 10.