Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford exited practice on Wednesday because of hamstring tightness. Stafford participated in the first half of Wednesday's joint practice session with the Dallas Cowboys in Thousand Oaks, Calif., but he sat out most of the second half. The Rams already were not expected to play Stafford, 36, in the four preseason games before the regular-season opener Sept. 8 at the Detroit Lions. Stafford led the Rams to the Super Bowl LVI title at the end of the 2021 campaign. He missed 10 total games the past two seasons with injuries but threw for 3,965 yards and 24 touchdown passes in 15 games last year and was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career. Also on Wednesday, the Rams signed veteran defensive lineman Carlos Watkins, filling a roster spot opened after kicker Tanner Brown was waived. Watkins, 30, had one sack and seven tackles in two games in 2023 for the Arizona Cardinals before sustaining a season-ending biceps injury. The Houston Texans selected Watkins in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He played three seasons for the Texans and two for the Cowboys (2021-22) before joining the Cardinals. Watkins has 139 tackles, six sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries in 71 games (37 starts). --Field Level Media.