Kelly Stafford has publicly questioned the NFL’s decision to give the Los Angeles Rams a shortened bye-week break during the 2026 season. (Instagram)
Kelly Stafford has questioned the NFL’s scheduling decision after the Los Angeles Rams were handed a shorter-than-usual break during the 2026 season. The Rams are scheduled to face the Arizona Cardinals on November 15 before returning to action against the Green Bay Packers on November 25. The team will play Arizona on November 15 and then face Green Bay at home on November 25. The Packers game on November 25 will then test how well the team handles the limited recovery period.
“Because after 18 years around this league, even I need a week off during the season… and I have never played a single snap.
“Just curious to hear the thought process behind making the Rams the only team in the NFL without a true bye week,” she wrote in a follow-up post. Kelly wants the league to explain why Los Angeles has been given such a tight turnaround. She first addressed the issue during a workout, explaining why the usual talk about players getting healthy after a bye did not apply to Matthew’s team. She also explained how a normal NFL bye works, with a team playing on one Sunday, sitting out the following weekend and returning the Sunday after that. That leaves nine full days between games, rather than the longer recovery period associated with a conventional bye. The short break also comes during a demanding part of the season, when players are dealing with accumulated injuries and fatigue. I’m tired just watching from the stands. Can’t imagine how the guys feel. They still have to travel to face the Cardinals before reaching the scheduled break. There is also a practical concern for head coach Sean McVay. A longer break can give injured players more time to recover, while allowing the coaching staff to review performances and prepare for the final stretch. With the Rams still trying to establish consistency, those extra days could have real value.
Matthew Stafford ‘s wife took her frustration to social media on Tuesday, arguing that the team’s upcoming bye week offers little of the recovery time players usually expect.