LA Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke positively about the quarterback's progress on Tuesday but Stafford faces a race against time.

It felt like an eternity between the start of Los Angeles Rams training camp and Matthew Stafford’s first practice on Monday. The veteran quarterback had been sidelined by a back injury for nearly a month but he returned to the field for the first time Monday.

On the surface, Monday’s news regarding Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was positive. He practiced. He looked good. But there’s still a lingering mystery regarding his status. The transcript of coach Sean McVay’s press conference says it all. In scattered but unmistakable words peppered throughout his comments.

Matthew Stafford’s back was never supposed to be a big deal, but the lack of positive updates since last weekend, and reversing course on that report from Sean McVay that the quarterback would return to practice before we found out that wasn’t really the case,

The Atlanta Falcons believe they found theirs in Michael Penix. And, according to Sports Illustrated 's Albert Breer, that staff thinks they have found the next Matthew Stafford.