The Rams opened the week with a depth-chart decision that looks simple on paper and messy everywhere else. Stetson Bennett is listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Matthew Stafford for Thursday’s season opener against the 49ers, with rookie Ty Simpson at No.
- But Sean McVay made it clear that the order doesn’t tell the whole story.
“I'll tell you when I decide who is going to be the actual two in the game,” McVay said via therams.com. “I've talked to the players about it, but that's something that they're both going to continue to train regardless of who it ends up being up and who is the emergency third.
I look at it as both of those guys are going to play, but you saw, we listed Stetson as the two, Ty as the three. But I look at it as the two A, two B and we'll see how we approach the game.”
That leaves Bennett in a strange spot. The Rams had to put somebody at No. 2, and they chose him.
Still, McVay’s comments stopped short of the kind of clean endorsement that usually comes with that spot. Instead of treating the depth chart as the final word, he’s keeping the door open for Simpson if Stafford is unavailable.
McVay said he’ll decide later who would actually enter the game if the Rams need a backup quarterback. That’s not how these things usually sound.
In most cases, the No. 2 guy is the No. 2 guy. Here, though, McVay is leaving the situation fluid, even after Bennett was officially listed ahead of Simpson.
The players, according to McVay, have already been told who would play if Stafford can’t go. That would appear to point to Bennett, since he was named the primary backup. But the coach’s other comments muddy the picture enough to make the whole thing feel unsettled.
Bennett had reasons to believe this job was his. He started the two preseason games he played this year, and he also got first-team reps over Simpson in practice. Even so, the Rams waited until now to make him the backup, and even then they stopped short of fully locking him in.
That uncertainty raises bigger questions about Bennett’s place in Los Angeles. If the Rams are treating Simpson as a true equal, then Bennett’s hold on the job doesn’t look especially strong. His contract with the Rams expires after this season, and if the team sees Simpson on the same level, it’s tough to picture Bennett getting re-signed.
For now, Bennett is the backup in name, but not in the fully settled, trust-heavy way that usually comes with the title. His future in LA looks shaky, and at this point it’s hard to say exactly how the Rams see him beyond this season.
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 Bennett Gives Georgia Fans A Reason To Smile Amid NIL Anger
Stetson Bennetts climb with the Los Angeles Rams keeps giving Georgia fans a familiar reminder of how far the former Bulldogs quarterback can go. The Rams named Bennett their backup for the first time in his NFL career, a notable step for a player who became a staple of Georgias championship run and remains one of the programs most recognizable success stories.
Back in Athens, the week has brought a different kind of chatter, with Kirby Smart again leaning on his message about continuous improvement as Georgia prepares for Western Kentucky. But the online noise has centered on the Bulldogs NIL collective, Glory Glory Georgia, which put week one game highlights behind a $20 monthly paywall and drew criticism from fans who were quick to voice their frustration. [Read more 🡒]