Rams set modified 2026 offseason plan for QB Matthew Stafford

The Los Angeles Rams will maintain a modified offseason plan for quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2026, head coach Sean McVay said. The approach is designed to trim physical and mental load as Stafford, 38, enters his 18th NFL season. It mirrors routines that preceded his 2025 NFL MVP award, when the veteran arrived fresher and sustained form through the year. Specifics will be coordinated with the club’s medical and strength staffs.

Last spring the Rams reduced Stafford’s in-person requirements for organized team activities, allowing him to complete portions remotely using his home gym and the team’s film system. A back issue between the offseason program and training camp limited his throwing until a return to practice on August 18, but he then took every practice rep in-season and led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes.

McVay indicated the staff may again tailor training camp for a healthy Stafford, consistent with his broader policy of minimizing preseason exposure for core starters and scheduling regular rest days for veterans. The objective, coaches said, is to keep Stafford physically, emotionally and mentally fresh across a long season without sacrificing team sharpness.

The Rams also moved to safeguard practice continuity by strengthening the quarterback room. The club drafted Alabama’s Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick to compete for the backup job and absorb meaningful camp and preseason snaps alongside returning 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett IV. That depth is expected to preserve offensive rhythm while allowing the starter’s workload to be managed.

Lessons from 2025 inform 2026 routine

Remote OTAs and targeted rest

Coaches found that trimming what McVay has described as the more monotonous portions of the offseason kept Stafford engaged without overtaxing him. Remote work built around film study and strength maintenance provided flexibility for family time while preserving the quarterback’s preparation standards.

Late ramp-up, sustained output

Although the lighter summer in 2025 was not fully by design—his throwing was curtailed until mid-August—Stafford’s late ramp-up did not derail his season. He returned to lead the offense efficiently, topping the league in passing yards and touchdown passes and earning MVP honors.

Backup plan aims to protect starter’s workload

Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett to split reps

Simpson’s first-round selection gives Los Angeles another option to handle practice sequences and preseason quarters if Stafford’s camp schedule is adjusted. McVay has said the rookie will compete with Bennett, and both are expected to log significant reps in training camp and likely in preseason action.

Garoppolo uncertainty and 2025 precedent

The Rams had hoped to re-sign Jimmy Garoppolo after he served as the primary backup the past two seasons, but he has considered retirement and is unlikely to return, according to team officials. In last year’s camp, Garoppolo handled first-team work while Bennett took second-team snaps and started the first two preseason games, a structure coaches credited with keeping the offense and defense on schedule while Stafford’s workload was reduced.

The Rams will finalize Stafford’s exact offseason and camp cadence with input from medical and performance staffs. Key items to watch are how the club dials his training-camp workload and how the Simpson–Bennett competition shapes the depth chart before Week 1.