The tightness in quarterback Matthew Stafford's hamstring, initially described as a "little something" by Rams coach Sean McVay, is becoming a bigger issue as he was sidelined for most of the last two practices. On Sunday, McVay expressed uncertainty about Stafford's participation in practice this week, leaving his availability for the upcoming preseason game against the Houston Texans in doubt.

While Stafford can still throw and engage in certain activities, his overall movement remains a concern. McVay stated that a final decision on his participation will depend on how Stafford feels and if the coaching staff deems it safe for him to play. Despite this setback, McVay mentioned that Stafford's positive progress is encouraging, and the team is hopeful that his hamstring tightness will continue to improve.

The Rams, who have been preparing for the preseason clash with the Texans, will have workouts on Monday and Tuesday before heading to Houston for joint practices. The teams will meet in a preseason game on Saturday. However, with the season opener against the Detroit Lions just over two weeks away, the status of Stafford's injury is raising concerns about his preparedness for the game.

McVay emphasized Stafford's experience and highlighted the potential benefits of a short break for veterans like him during the final stages of training camp. Even if Stafford were to miss a couple of days this week, McVay believes that he will still have sufficient time to prepare for the opener in Detroit on September 8. The Rams' success this season largely depends on Stafford's physical condition, as they aim to build upon their 10-7 record from last year and make another playoff appearance.

Last season, the Rams faced difficulties when Stafford got injured, and backup Brett Rypien struggled in his place during a defeat against the Green Bay Packers. As a result, the team signed veteran Carson Wentz as a backup but did not retain him after the season. Instead, they added Jimmy Garoppolo, a 10-year veteran, on a one-year contract in March. The Rams have also been evaluating another option in Stetson Bennett, who played every snap in their preseason wins against the Dallas Cowboys and the Chargers.

McVay refrained from formally declaring Bennett as the backup quarterback, stating that they are still evaluating their options. While Bennett has shown progress and performed well in the last game, McVay emphasized the need for consistent improvement. He did not provide a timeline for when the decision regarding the backup quarterback would be made, suggesting that Stafford's absence from practice this week would provide more opportunities to evaluate both Bennett and Garoppolo.

In conclusion, the seriousness of Matthew Stafford's hamstring injury has sparked concerns within the Rams organization. With the regular season opener rapidly approaching, the team's success relies heavily on the condition of their star quarterback. McVay and his coaching staff will carefully assess Stafford's progress and make a decision about his availability in the coming days. Meanwhile, players like Stetson Bennett and Jimmy Garoppolo will have additional chances to showcase their capabilities as potential backups for the Rams.