The Rams are heading into their preseason opener with a quarterback decision that says plenty about where things stand right now.
Sean McVay has chosen Stetson Bennett to start Saturday against the Chiefs, while Ty Simpson will still see action, according to Rams reporter Stu Jackson. Matthew Stafford and most of the starters are expected to sit, which makes the quarterback rotation one of the more notable parts of the night.
"Sean McVay said Stetson Bennett will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs," Jackson reports. "Ty Simpson will also play."
That choice matters because Simpson is the Rams’ 2026 first-round pick, and the move suggests Bennett may be the early favorite to handle the backup role behind Stafford. For now, Simpson remains listed third on the depth chart.
Bennett, 28, is in his third season out of Georgia. He was productive in last year’s preseason, throwing for 512 yards with a 68.8% completion percentage, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Even with that work, he has not been part of the Rams’ regular-season game plan.
Simpson is 23 and will be making his first NFL appearance in the preseason opener. At Alabama last year, he threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was drafted No. 13 overall and is viewed as the future at quarterback for the Rams.
Still, the first preseason game of the year will belong to Bennett, not Simpson. There’s time for Simpson to climb the depth chart and make a push for QB2, but entering Saturday, he looks to be firmly behind Bennett.
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