Cautious Rams 'want to be smart' with QB Stafford hamstring

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (hamstring tightness) took part in individual drills during practice Monday but did not participate in team drills because the Rams "wanted to be smart with him," coach Sean McVay said Monday.

McVay said that he's not sure whether Stafford will participate in the full practice Tuesday but that Los Angeles "will progress him as the week goes." The Rams are scheduled to practice Tuesday at their facility and then Thursday in Houston with the Texans.

"[We] wanted to be smart with him," McVay said. "If there was any sort of sudden movement that set him back, just didn't think it would be worth it. He's feeling great."

On Monday, McVay said he's "not concerned" about Stafford missing time because of hamstring tightness. Stafford left the Rams' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys last week and did not participate in the team's jog-through the next day as a precaution.

Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took the first-team reps in Stafford's place during team drills Monday. Garoppolo, who signed with the Rams in March, is suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy.

"We will progress [Stafford] as the week goes, but the goal in mind is making sure that we get a good couple weeks of preparation for the Detroit game," McVay said. "How that is progressed over the next two days, really, with Tuesday and Thursday being the workdays that he would have, we'll see."