Sean McVay still hasn’t made up his mind on how the Rams will handle preseason quarterback snaps behind Matthew Stafford, and with exhibition games about to begin, the competition is suddenly front and center.
One decision is already set. Stafford will not play a preseason snap. The 38-year-old, coming off an MVP season, is staying out of harm’s way, and McVay has made it clear he sees no reason to put his starter at risk in games that do not count.
The real question is how the rest of the reps will be divided between Stetson Bennett and rookie Ty Simpson. According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN, McVay has not yet settled on that part of the plan.
The setup feels familiar, even if the names have changed. Last summer, Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo both sat out the entire preseason, and Bennett handled the first two exhibition games. He made that opportunity count, throwing for 512 yards and five touchdowns while showing better decision-making than he had in previous years.
Now Garoppolo is gone, and the backup job is open. Bennett is entering his fourth NFL season and has taken advantage of the chance in camp.
Reports from practice have described him as more confident running the huddle, and McVay has praised him as well. Simpson, though, is not just a placeholder.
The Rams drafted him in the first round in 2026, and he’s the long-term answer whenever Stafford eventually steps aside.
So far in camp, the distribution of reps has mostly mirrored Stafford’s availability. When Stafford has been out managing his workload, Bennett has worked with the first team while Simpson has spent most of his time with the second unit and in individual drills. When Stafford practices, Bennett drops into the backup role and Simpson’s share shrinks.
Bennett’s advantage is simple: he already knows the offense. McVay’s system is famously demanding, and Bennett is further along with the terminology, the checks and the huddle language.
Simpson brings the physical traits and the draft pedigree, but he is still learning how an Alabama playbook translates into McVay’s world. That makes the preseason especially important for both quarterbacks, because the reps will show how quickly Simpson is catching up and whether Bennett can hold off the rookie.
The Rams’ preseason schedule gives the battle three chances to unfold:
Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs - Saturday, Aug. 15
Week 2 vs. New Orleans Saints - Saturday, Aug.
22
Week 3 at Los Angeles Chargers - Thursday, Aug.
27
With Stafford expected to keep watching from the sideline in a baseball cap, as he has for most of camp, Bennett and Simpson should split the spotlight across those three games. McVay has said he wants to evaluate the situation day by day instead of locking into a plan too early, so the clearest answer may not come until the Rams open in Kansas City.
For now, Bennett still has the edge. He’s been getting the bulk of the first-team work whenever Stafford rests, and that has held through most of camp. But Simpson’s first-round status means the Rams won’t let him drift too far behind without making sure every snap he earns has been earned the hard way.
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