Stetson Bennett IV is set to take the first snap for the Los Angeles Rams when they open the NFL preseason at Kansas City at 4:04 p.m. on Saturday, giving the fourth-year quarterback another chance to keep building his case behind Matthew Stafford.
The Rams waited until Thursday to make the call, after there was speculation Bennett might sit and first-round pick Ty Simpson could get the start instead. Stafford, entering his 18th season, is not expected to play, which leaves Bennett and Simpson to handle the spotlight while Sean McVay evaluates his backups.
Bennett has drawn plenty of attention this summer, even if Tuesday’s joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys brought two interceptions. The rest of his offseason work has earned strong marks from McVay and teammates, and Blake Corum didn’t hold back when describing what Bennett brings to the huddle.
“When you look at Stetson, you can see he carries a certain type of aura, swag, when he enters the field he’s not scared to cut it loose,” Rams’ tailback Blake Corum said after practice last week.
“He goes out there with utmost confidence and his form is beautiful. Coach has seen it, us players have seen it, him taking just a leap in being a field general, taking total command of the offense.”
Corum also said the Rams can feel Bennett’s presence once the play is called.
“He can hear it in the huddle” when Bennett is calling plays, Corum said.
“He’s balled out this camp and he’s only going to continue to get better,” Corum said. “Since I’ve been here in every preseason game, I feel like he’s balled out, and that’s all you can ask.”
McVay has said Bennett has been “playing the position at a high level,” and the numbers back up the growth. Bennett’s completion rate jumped from 59% in 2024 to 69% in 2025, while his touchdown-interception line improved from 2 TDs and 5 interceptions to 5 TDs with 3 interceptions.
That matters because Bennett still hasn’t appeared in a regular-season NFL game, even though he has handled a heavy preseason load. He started all three Rams preseason games last year and two of the three in 2024.
Saturday also gives McVay a look at Simpson, who is battling Bennett for the No. 2 job behind Stafford. McVay said he wants both quarterbacks to show “good command” against a Chiefs team that will not play former NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.
“Consistently making good decisions, playing within the timing and rhythm of, you know, whatever that play is that Nate (Scheelhaase, offensive coordinator) decides to call,” McVay said, elaborating on what he wants to see from his quarterbacks in Kansas City.
“And I want to see us get in and out of the huddle, good communication. There will be a lot of different guys that will be kind of rotating in, but I want Stetson to be able to do what he’s done, and I want Ty to be able to do what he’s done as well. It’ll be fun watching both those guys play.”
Bennett’s development has also stood out to Puka Nacua, who has been sidelined by a minor groin injury that is expected to keep him out through the preseason.
“I think everybody knows that there’s a swagger that he has when he walks out on the football field,” Nacua said. “In the receiver room, you can feel that, and there’s a swagger and an aura that No. 9 (Matthew Stafford) has, and it bleeds into that room,
“It’s been exciting to see Stetty go out there with the confidence to sling it, and then to watch Ty continue to ask the right questions, and then when he goes out there to play with confidence.”
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