For much of the summer, the Rams acted like the backup quarterback job behind Matthew Stafford belonged to Stetson Bennett and only Stetson Bennett. That changed this week.
On Thursday, during a joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, Bennett and Simpson split the backup reps, a shift Sean McVay said was tied to the limited number of reps available. Still, it was hard to ignore.
Then, before Saturday’s preseason game, the Rams’ broadcast crew of J.B. Long, Jourdan Rodrigue, and Rob Havenstein brought up the quarterback battle on air.
That made the situation feel even more real internally.
Saturday only added more fuel to it.
Against the Saints, Bennett handled the entire first half while Simpson took over for the second half. That was a notable change after Bennett had received just two drives in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. The increased workload suggested the Rams wanted a longer look at the quarterback who has spent most of the offseason as their clear No. 2 - or at least wanted to reinforce why that was the case.
Bennett delivered a solid showing. He went 19-for-31 for 181 yards and added two rushing touchdowns.
A few throws got away from him, but he settled in after the opening drive and looked comfortable running the offense. He worked the ball to the outside with consistency and showed he can create with his legs.
It was also a reminder that Bennett has three years of preseason experience under his belt. He’s been in this setting before, and he’s handled it well before.
Simpson, though, remains very much in the picture. The rookie is still developing, and that showed.
The game script didn’t make things easy for him, but he wasn’t as sharp as he was against the Chiefs. He didn’t look quite as settled in the pocket, and there was a little more hesitation in his play.
That said, he still flashed, including a strong throw to Tru Edwards along the sideline outside the numbers.
If Saturday proved anything, it’s that the decision is not simple.
It brings to mind the Rams’ situation in 2022, when John Wolford was initially ahead of Baker Mayfield after Mayfield arrived. Wolford knew the offense better, and the Rams had reasons for keeping him in that spot. But the real question always comes down to this: when the game is on the line, who do they trust?
That’s the dilemma now. Bennett knows the system better, while Simpson offers more upside.
The Rams used the 13th overall pick on Simpson for a reason, and if Stafford were to go down, you’d expect the first-round talent to be the one with the clearest path to the field. That makes the current depth-chart arrangement tricky if Simpson remains behind Bennett.
How the Rams handle the reps next week will be worth watching. After what they saw on Saturday, it would not be a surprise if Bennett’s work starts to taper off and Simpson gets most of the action against the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s also possible the Rams give Matthew Caldwell some snaps, as they have done with Dresser Winn in the past, or simply let Simpson play the full game.
Either way, Saturday didn’t settle the competition. It just made it harder to ignore.
Bennett reminded everyone why he’s held the backup job for most of the offseason. Simpson still has time to close the gap, and maybe pass him.
But that may not happen before Week 1.
In Other News...
Rams QB Battle Just Got More Interesting For Stetson Bennett
Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett have both done enough in the preseason to keep the Rams quarterback conversation alive, and that is exactly the kind of problem Sean McVay wants this time of year. Simpson stood out in the opener with sharp decision-making, while Bennett answered in the next game with Player of the Game honors, giving Los Angeles a second look at two young passers who have each flashed enough to matter.
Bennetts recent progress has added another layer to the competition, especially after he has cleaned up the turnovers that had been part of his story earlier. With both quarterbacks making a case and McVay publicly encouraged by what he has seen from Simpson, the Rams still have a real preseason battle on their hands, and the next few practices and reps will go a long way toward shaping how that room looks when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Just Made The Rams Roster Battle A Lot Tougher
The Rams second preseason game turned into a showcase for several young players, and Stetson Bennett made sure the quarterback conversation got louder. In a 34-0 shutout of the Saints, Bennett handled his work efficiently, completing 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards while adding two rushing touchdowns and taking home Player of the Game honors. The performance came with plenty of other names flashing too, including running back Jarquez Hunter, receiver CJ Daniels, edge rusher Wesley Bailey and cornerback Cam Lampkin.
For a roster that still has several battles to sort out, the most encouraging part for Los Angeles is how many players are forcing the issue at once. Bennetts outing stood out most, especially with the team evaluating depth and roles behind the established pieces, while Dean Connors had a quieter night after a more noticeable preseason debut. The Rams still have decisions ahead, but games like this make the margins a lot tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Stetson Bennett Just Gave Rams Fans A Real Backup QB Debate
Stetson Bennett spent the first half of the Rams second preseason game making a real case for himself, and the setting could not have been much calmer for a quarterback trying to make noise. With the defense blanking New Orleans and the offense stacking up four scoring drives before halftime, Bennett went 19 of 31 for 181 yards and added two rushing touchdowns in a 34-0 rout that gave Los Angeles plenty to like on both sides of the ball.
Ty Simpson handled the second half after Bennetts work was done, but the conversation the Rams may have sparked goes beyond one August win. Bennetts ability to keep the offense moving and finish drives adds some weight to a backup quarterback picture that had seemed straightforward enough before kickoff, and hell get one more chance to keep pressing his case when the Rams face the Chargers in the final preseason game on Aug. 27. [Read more 🡒]