Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford returned to the football field on Monday. That was months since he had thrown to his teammates, and even longer since he had done so in pads. The news was more than a morale boost for the team. His return keeps the flicker of hope that he will start in Week 1 burning.
But it’s only the first step on a long staircase back to starting a game. He wasn’t competing at the level he would if fully healthy, with his throws carefully limited. This remains a gradual process of resuming football activities.