The question isn't that Stafford is returning, the question is for how long? There is no way his spinal contusion will be 100% healed. What happens if he receives one good hit in the back? Last year it made his legs tingle and weaken. That is what sidelined him last year and it lasted all season after he went on IR. Then what?
I asked my son's doc about it in relation to my son's spinal contusion. He said if the NFL medically clears Stafford in September they are intentionally being reckless. He told my son he would be healed in a year but that he can go back to work in about 4 months. He warned my son that he will feel fine but for years he would be susceptible to re-injury. He confirmed that concussions were cumulative over a lifetime. He told my son what my doc told me that it's not only the severity that matters but the frequency of injury. He said 3 in a calendar year is considered serious and could be a pre-cursor to TBI.
That along with his huge salary rise in 2024 is why Snead needs to be proactive and have a plan to replace Stafford after this year. Be it with Mayfield or someone else I would be shocked if Stafford is the Ram's QB1 in 2024. Just listening to McVay after the Oakland game, it was clear Mayfield would be the QB he would want.
Mayfield's story is much like Geno Smith's story. Thought of as strictly a backup talent he blossomed last year with a new team and new offensive system. It once again proves the value of scheme fit. Geno finally found what he needed to be successful. Perhaps Mayfield just needed a system fit and a HC that believes in him to blossom. I'm sure he knows it and that is what he really meant when he said he was a starting QB. Well, we will soon find out in a few days or a few weeks. If the Rams don't re-sign either Wolford or Perkins that would IMO be the first tell.
The only place Stafford is going after the Rams is the broadcasting booth. He can make almost as much per year and have a much longer career. They can sign Mayfield as backup this year and draft a QB in the 5th round to be QB3 this year and QB2 in 2024 when Baker starts.
