Matthew Stafford's elbow injury has been a topic of concern for the Los Angeles Rams in the lead up to the start of the 2022 NFL season. With the Super Bowl champions set to officially start their title defense Thursday night in the Week 1 opener against the Buffalo Bills, the quarterback reportedly won't be slowed down by his ailing arm.

Stafford had offseason surgery to fix the pain in his elbow that he experienced last season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. After limiting his throwing during training camp, the veteran signal-caller says he now feels better than he did a year ago.

"I feel good," Stafford told reporters Sunday. "I'm ready to go. No limitations. ... I feel great. I'm ready to go play. Can always be better. Can always try to feel like I'm 21 again. I'll keep trying. But no, I feel really good. I feel like I can make every throw."

If Stafford is feeling even better than he did in his first season with the Rams, it's a good sign for Los Angeles' chances to contend. The 2021 season was the best of Stafford's career, finishing third in the league with 4,886 passing yards and second with 41 passing touchdowns. His 102.9 passer rating was the highest mark of his career for a full season.

Stafford was even better in the playoffs, posting a 108.3 passer rating and 11 total touchdowns in four postseason games. Had Cooper Kupp not been named the Super Bowl LVI MVP, the award might've gone to Stafford, who threw three touchdown passes and led a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I tell you what, he's throwing the ball excellent," Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters. "And he feels good. Everything that I'm seeing is reflective of everything he's saying to me. And so I feel really good about that."

Despite dealing with the elbow injury last year, Stafford didn't miss a single start. Stafford has started every game in 10 of the last 11 seasons. He missed half of the 2019 season with broken bones in his back while playing for the Detroit Lions.

Stafford and the Rams are trying to become the first team since the 2004 New England Patriots to win consecutive Super Bowls.

Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with running back Darrell Henderson #27 after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half at Lumen Field on Oct. 7, 2021, in Seattle. Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images