David Chao, MD
2 min read • July 23, 2023
Posted in
This is a preview of our 2023 NFL Preseason Injury Report, which will feature detailed injury info on all 32 teams heading into training camp. Sign up for our newsletter here to receive more snippets as they are released.
The 2022 Super Bowl champ has dealt with an abundance of difficult injuries throughout his career, but has played through most of them effectively. His spinal contusion last season is a separate issue. The Pro Football Docs anticipated he would opt for off-season surgery to prevent the potential for future neck injuries. However, there has been no word that he received that surgery. He is signed through 2026 as the Rams’ signal caller, but his neck issue means he’s likely one wrong hit away from calling it a career. Our panel of doctors never want to foreshadow or predict injuries, but the chances of Stafford finishing the season without suffering another spinal cord injury are not guaranteed. For years, our analysis has proven there are few quarterbacks tougher than Stafford, but another spinal cord contusion is not something to mess with.
Among the fantasy football community there is a narrative that no running back is the same after an Achilles tear. Cam Akers is well on his way to dispelling that myth and the Pro Football Docs have no hesitations regarding his health heading into the 2023 season. Akers finished last season with 786 yards and 7 touchdowns despite a dispute with head coach Sean McVay over his willingness to pass block.
Evans suffered a mild hamstring strain before the NFL combine and did not end up participating. However, he should be fully healthy for training camp and has no medical downgrade from our panel of doctors.
The Super Bowl LVI MVP suffered a high ankle sprain in November of last season and did not play another game. The Rams have been very optimistic about his recovery and said he will be ready to go for training camp. Our panel of doctors have no hesitations about Kupp this season, but it would be a surprise to see Matthew Stafford throwing passes to him all season given his previous neck issues.
Noteboom tore his achilles last season in Week 8, hurting the Rams chances at bouncing back in 2022. The Rams were already down Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, and David Edwards — who all were starters at one point. Additionally, the Rams lost their top pick of 2022 offensive lineman Logan Bruss due to a knee injury in the preseason. Hopefully the Rams offensive line can stay healthy somewhat in 2023, but for Noteboom he will need to take it slow to get back to 100%.
Allen suffered a calf injury last year in week 16 and had been dealing with knee and thumb injuries all season as well. This all contributed to him missing a total of 8 games in 2022. He also played through a partially torn UCL in his elbow in 2021 during the Rams Super Bowl run. Rams fans are worried about the durability of Allen and if he can stay healthy for an offensive line that sorely needs him.
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Written by David Chao, MD
