Matthew Stafford Gets Good News Before Rams Square Off Against Saints
Posted November 1, 2025
Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams received good news on multiple fronts ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. It starts by getting his top playmaker, Puka Nacua, back after a one-game absence with an ankle injury.
It does not stop there, though.
The Rams are 2-2 coming out of the bye week with Stafford. They are 5-3 with head coach Sean McVay at the helm and are facing a 1-7 Saints team in Week 9.
Matthew Stafford Gets Good News Before Rams-Saints
Stafford was effective against the Jacksonville Jaguars without Nacua, passing for 182 yards on 63.6% completion, but also setting an international record with 5 touchdown throws.
The Rams were also without Tutu Atwell, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Nacua logged back-to-back full practices to end the week, has no injury designation on the final report, and McVay said the Pro Bowler “looked good” on the field.
“He’s feeling good. And I think what’s important, … is his style of play. You want him to feel as good as possible just because of all the different things that we ask of him for his game to fully come to life. He’s done a great job working with our group, with [Rams vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott] and his group, to be able to get himself back feeling good. Had a little bit of soreness, but that’s how he’s always feeling. But he looked really good in practice. Got two really good work days,” McVay told reporters on October 31.
“He’ll be ready to roll, and he’s looked good.”
He still leads the NFL in targets and first-down receptions, but he led the league in receiving yards before suffering his injury.
Stafford threw 3 TDs to Davante Adams during Nacua’s absence, and the veteran quarterback avoided taking a sack in a game for the first time this season against the Jaguars. Now, they face a Saints team that ranks 15th overall and 24th in scoring defensively.
Rams Super Bowl Champion Returns to Field
Stafford’s protection will get a boost from the return of Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein against the Saints.
Havenstein upgraded to a full session to cap the week of practice and shed his designation, just as Nacua did. Havenstein was a member of the Rams’ Super Bowl team in 2021. He has been sidelined since Week 4, when he and the Rams defeated the Indianapolis Colts in LA.
McVay lauded Havenstein and the veteran’s fill-in, Warren McClendon.
“It’s great to be able to have Rob back out there,” McVay said. “He’s a fighter, man, and he battles, and he’s got great experience. Just his wisdom, his leadership.
“I feel really good about what Warren McClendon has done. Just the maturity, the play, and all that. I think that’s a tremendous credit to Warren, but also to Rob, and Rob has looked good. We’re glad to be able to have Rob back out there, and I think he’s feeling good as well.”
Rams Secondary Takes Hit
McVay did say Rams cornerback Darious Williams is doubtful for this game. The Rams will trot out trade acquisition Roger McCreary. But Williams, who McVay suggested could return in Week 10 against the San Francisco 49ers, is the second starter lost to injury.
Ahkello Witherspoon is on injured reserve with a broken collarbone.
Even with the Rams’ strong pass rush, Stafford and the offense could need to keep their foot on the gas to make up for and even protect their pathwork secondary.
Colts Rookie Benched for Disciplinary Violation — Hasn’t Played a Single Snap After Shane Steichen’s Tough Message on Standards
The Indianapolis Colts’ seventh-round rookie wide receiver has yet to see the field this season — and head coach Shane Steichen just made it clear why.
Despite impressing during offseason workouts with his speed and versatility, the young wideout has remained on the practice squad since Week 1, with Steichen citing discipline and execution as the main reasons behind the decision.
“HE'S GOT THE TALENT, NO QUESTION. BUT IN INDIANAPOLIS, EXECUTION IS EVERYTHING. HE MISSED READS, BLEW ASSIGNMENTS, AND DIDN'T MASTER THE DETAILS. AROUND HERE, YOU DON'T EARN SNAPS WITH POTENTIAL — YOU EARN THEM BY PLAYING THE COLTS WAY.”
The rookie in question is Junior Bergen, a seventh-round pick (No. 252 overall) from Montana, who signed a four-year rookie contract shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft. Bergen flashed promise as a slot receiver and return specialist during training camp, drawing early comparisons to former Colts gadget players known for their versatility and intelligence.
However, insiders from the team’s practice sessions revealed that Bergen struggled to learn route progressions, execute assignments precisely, and adjust to the pace and complexity of Steichen’s offense — a system renowned for demanding timing, precision, and mental sharpness.
The Colts waived Bergen on August 26, 2025, only to re-sign him to the practice squad the following day — a move Steichen described as part of the development process rather than a punishment.
“He’s learning,” Steichen said. “But at this level, talent isn’t enough. You have to prove every day that you understand your job and that your teammates can trust you to execute it.”
Bergen has since worked closely with receivers coach Reggie Wayne, focusing on improving his route discipline and timing. Despite being benched from active play, team sources say the 23-year-old has shown steady progress and remains a long-term project for the Colts’ offense.
Still, Steichen’s message was unmistakable: in Indianapolis, consistency and preparation are non-negotiable. “This organization is built on accountability,” he said. “Every player here — whether it’s a Pro Bowler or a rookie — is expected to uphold that standard. Until you do, you sit.”
For Junior Bergen, the lesson is clear. The path back to the field won’t come from talent alone — it will come from mastering the details and earning the right to play the
