Stafford (back) expected to start Rams' season opener

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to start the Los Angeles Rams' season opener on Sunday after missing nearly a month of training camp with a back injury, coach Sean McVay confirmed.

McVay also said left tackle Alaric Jackson is on track to play after joining practice Monday for the first time since he was sidelined with blood clots before training camp began. Jackson is expected to practice all week before the Rams host the Houston Texans.

While McVay couldn't definitively say Jackson will suit up Sunday, Stafford will be behind center, barring a setback.

The 37-year-old Stafford has participated in the past two weeks of practice with the Rams after getting off to a slow start to his 17th NFL season. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback aggravated a disk in his back during offseason training, and he was unable to join the Rams' first four weeks of practice.

“Backs are sometimes interesting things,” Stafford said late last month. “It’s not cut-and-dried what’s what, and how you’re going to feel. I really appreciate our team and our head coach and everybody taking a day-to-day approach with me and doing everything they can to help me out. I feel a ton of responsibility to our team to do what’s right for them, and to try to do the best I can day in, day out.”

Stafford sat out all three preseason games, as is normal for all of McVay's key players. Stafford still hasn't played in a game with Davante Adams, the veteran receiver signed by the Rams in the offseason, but the rest of his offense is nearly all returning players.

Jackson, the Rams' starting left tackle for the past two seasons, agreed to a three-year, $57 million contract extension in the offseason. Stafford also renegotiated his contract, getting more guaranteed money in what's essentially a year-to-year deal.

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