Stetson Bennett is heading into the regular season in a new spot, and Georgia’s off-field buzz is leaning in a very different direction.
The former Bulldogs quarterback has officially been named the Rams’ backup quarterback, a role he battled Ty Simpson for all offseason. Los Angeles had been weighing the decision for a while, but with its first regular-season game set for Thursday, the Rams finally made the call and went with Bennett.
It’s the first time in Bennett’s NFL career that he’s listed as No. 2 on the depth chart. That doesn’t mean he’ll see the field this season, but if Matthew Stafford goes down, Bennett would get his first crack in a regular-season NFL game.
Back in Athens, Kirby Smart is trying to keep Georgia focused after a blowout opener and before another game that looks very manageable on paper. The Bulldogs crushed Tennessee State by 60 points last week and are set to face Western Kentucky this week, but Smart isn’t interested in letting the team coast.
His message for the week was simple: "You don't have to be sick to get better."
The point, as Smart laid it out, is that Georgia doesn’t need adversity to keep improving. Even after a lopsided win, the Bulldogs can still push forward and sharpen their game with bigger goals in mind.
Then there’s the NIL wrinkle that has drawn the loudest reaction around the program. Georgia has generally projected that NIL money isn’t the driving force in its approach, and Smart has made it clear in recruiting that he’d rather land players who aren’t chasing the biggest deal and are willing to outwork everybody else.
But the Bulldogs’ collective, Glory Glory Georgia, has stirred up backlash by putting week one game highlights behind a paywall. Fans now have to pay $20 per month to access highlights that had previously been free on social media.
That decision has not gone over well. Fans have complained, and national accounts have piled on too. For now, nothing has changed, and it remains to be seen whether the same setup will be in place after Georgia’s game against Western Kentucky this weekend.
In Other News...
Georgia May Have Found An Unexpected Answer On The Offensive Line
Georgias offensive line got a fresh look in the opener against Tennessee State, and one of the more notable developments was true freshman Zykie Helton earning the start at right guard. For Kirby Smart, it marked the third time a true freshman offensive lineman has started a season opener in his tenure, another sign that Georgia has not been afraid to trust a young player when the competition and the preparation point in that direction.
Helton got there by putting together a strong spring and arriving early to get a head start, but his path has also been shaped by far more than football. He dealt with Crohns disease and major health challenges in high school, and Smart pointed to both his toughness and his growth as reasons he has worked himself into a meaningful role up front. For Georgia, the larger question now is how quickly that early opportunity turns into something lasting along the line. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia May Be Hiding A Big Part Of Gunner Stocktons Game
Gunner Stocktons debut in Georgias opener against Tennessee State offered only a glimpse of what the Bulldogs may eventually ask of him. In a comfortable win, he never ran the ball, and there was little reason to force the issue with Georgia controlling the game so thoroughly. For now, the emphasis is on easing him into the offense and letting his passing game take center stage.
Western Kentucky should provide another chance for Georgia to keep Stockton upright and keep the plan simple. The expectation is that the Bulldogs will continue to limit his rushing attempts in the near term, using these early games to sharpen his development as a passer before the tougher SEC stretch arrives, when his full mobility is more likely to become part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennetts Rams Role Feels Less Secure Than It Looks
Stetson Bennett has officially opened the season as the Rams backup quarterback, but the label comes with a catch. Los Angeles listed the former Georgia star ahead of rookie Ty Simpson, yet Sean McVay was careful to frame the job as more of a shared space than a settled depth-chart victory, calling the two quarterbacks 2A and 2B.
McVay also made clear he will make the call if the backup is needed later in the season, which leaves Bennett in a familiar spot: present, but not necessarily secure. His contract runs out after this year, and the Rams seem to view Simpson as a real alternative rather than a long-term understudy, so Bennetts hold on the role could hinge on how the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]