Rams QB Matthew Stafford (back) participates in first practice

Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford participated in a preseason practice for the first time Monday after dealing with an aggravated disk in his back, multiple outlets reported.
Stafford, 37, was supposed to return to practice last week but continued to experience discomfort and instead spent time in a mobile hyperbaric recovery trailer parked at the team practice facility.
While Stafford still is not expected to participate in the Rams’ final preseason game Saturday against the Cleveland Browns, his return gives him just shy of three weeks to prepare for the team’s regular-season opener Sept. 7 at home against the Houston Texans.
The Rams have gone 2-0 in the preseason primarily with Stetson Bennett IV at quarterback. Bennett, who played the entirety of Saturday’s 23-22 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, is the team’s No. 3 QB behind Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Stafford completed 65.8 percent of his passes for the Rams in 16 games last season, throwing for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He nearly rallied the Rams to a victory in an NFC divisional-round game against the Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
In 16 NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions (2009-20) and Rams, Stafford has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 59,809 yards, 377 TDs and 188 interceptions. The two-time Pro Bowl selection guided the Rams to a Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2021 season.