Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford Dealing with Injury vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles will travel to Los Angeles in Week 5, set to square off with a 2-2 Rams team that's outplayed their preseason projections through the first month of the regular season.
It should be noted, though, that Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford won't be at 100 percent, as he deals with a left hip pointer that he suffered during the team's Week 4 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts. However, the 35-year-old says that he intends to play against the undefeated Eagles next week.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Stafford told the media Sunday. “I’ll be out there.”
Stafford famously has played through injuries for much of his career, an unfortunate reality of getting drafted No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions. However, two stints in concussion protocol limited him to nine games a season ago, and as he ages, it's fair to wonder if it will become more difficult to shrug off injuries and continue playing.
In any event, it appears that Stafford will be active next week at SoFi Stadium as the Rams attempt to hand the 4-0 Eagles their first loss of the season. Additionally, former Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp will be eligible to return from injured reserve as he continues to progress from a hamstring injury.
It's not yet clear if Kupp will make his season debut in Week 5, but if he does, he could form one of the league's most dominant receiving duos with rookie Puka Nacua, who has a staggering 39 catches for 501 yards to show for his first four NFL games. While throwing to Nacua, among others, Stafford has looked rejuvenated, even if his three touchdowns to five interceptions so far would lead you to believe otherwise.
The Eagles have opened as 4.5-point road favorites for the Week 5 matchup, though if Kupp is indeed playing, perhaps that will come down a bit.