Albert Breer’s Five Biggest Seahawks Training Camp Takeaways: Expect More From Rashid Shaheed
LOS ANGELES — I definitely won’t complain about NFL training camps starting one week later than usual this year, because that meant more time to prepare for the rigors of a long season.
However, it was time for me to leave my house. I’ve done nothing but do deep dives on The Odyssey since watching the latest Christopher Nolan film over the weekend. And, yes, I’ve consumed all the memes. I’m sure my wife is tired of my poor Robert Pattinson impression and hearing the line, “Somebody get these beggars out of here.”
I almost begged for water when I was out at Rams practice on Monday, but watching Matthew Stafford continue to throw dimes in his age-38 season while standing in the heat wasn’t so bad.
Ty Simpson and Matthew Stafford throwing together at Rams training camp 🙌
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 27, 2026
(via @GManzano24) pic.twitter.com/5pCSGvL4vd
Anyway, I’m thankful football is back. Here’s what I learned at my first stop on my 2026 NFL training camp tour.
Matthew Stafford looks better than ever
It’s become a summer tradition for Rams beat reporters to ask Stafford and coach Sean McVay about the veteran quarterback’s usage in training camp. It’s also custom for Stafford to get annoyed at those questions, which is somewhat understandable since he looked razor sharp in practice and is coming off an MVP season.
Still, the questions are fair at this stage of Stafford’s career. Additionally, the team should give the younger quarterbacks more reps (more on them in a bit). Stafford, in his 18th season, will likely again be managed like an aging quarterback despite not looking the part on the field and being healthy. Just last year, there was plenty made about his bad back that required him to lounge in a futuristic-like chamber before camp practices.
Despite the hoopla, Stafford went out and delivered the best season of his career (4,707 yards, 46 TDs, 109.2 rating). But for the first time in a long time, he opened training camp this season without an injury and appears to have picked up where he left off last season, when he dropped 374 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC title game against the Seahawks’ dominant defense.
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Obviously, Garrett is the other player for opposing teams to avoid. This was my first time watching Garrett up close during practice, and I have to say, he looks like a giant towering over the line of scrimmage.
His presence alone will be an advantage for his new team. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year didn’t see much action for his second camp practice in L.A., but he lined up on both sides of the field. Expect defensive coordinator Chris Shula to have a creative playbook for Garrett.
One more thing I learned …
Moneybagg Yo with Puka and Davante at Rams training camp 🤝
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 28, 2026
(via @GManzano24) pic.twitter.com/Y2EZGolzCG
It finally happened to me. I needed a younger person to help me identify a celebrity. I have never felt older in my life. But thank you to the Rams employee who told me it was rapper Moneybagg Yo who was chatting with Adams and Nacua after practice. I will be spending the next few days listening to his music.
