Aside from any possible Aaron Donald return, the biggest question hanging over Rams training camp is the quarterback battle between Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson.
OTAs didn’t offer much help in sorting it out. Los Angeles held only three open practices, and the little bit that was available didn’t exactly calm the nerves.
Training camp should give the Rams a much clearer read, but the issue goes beyond simply naming a winner. Whoever comes out on top has to be ready to step into the backup role by Week 1.
That’s the real pressure point for Sean McVay and the Rams. He’d prefer to have the decision settled by preseason, when Los Angeles usually gives reps to players who aren’t expected to play major roles. The ideal outcome would be enough clarity to scale back the workload for the eventual winner and move forward with confidence.
In a perfect setup, that player would be Simpson. That would quiet the criticism about the Rams “wasting” their first-round pick on him, and it would also let the team keep just two quarterbacks on the active roster instead of three, opening a spot for someone more likely to contribute.
That plan gets complicated if Bennett wins the job. The Rams are not going to try to sneak Simpson onto the practice squad, because he would not get through waivers. Bennett might not either, but with no snaps in three seasons with the team, Los Angeles could live with that risk if Simpson shows he can handle QB2.
McVay also made clear that the rookies were a little behind during OTAs. That matters here, because Bennett, despite being a fourth-year veteran, still hasn’t pulled away from Simpson. Right now, if everything else is equal, the edge appears to go to Bennett because he knows the system better.
Even then, the Rams still might not feel fully settled at backup quarterback. If Bennett wins the competition, that doesn’t automatically mean Los Angeles is comfortable handing him the job and moving on. Jimmy Garoppolo could be a phone call away if McVay needs to make a desperate plea, and the Rams could also be forced to sift through what’s left in free agency.
With Matthew Stafford’s age and injury concerns, the backup job matters in a very specific way. McVay needs someone he can trust to go in for a spot start, or even just one series, if Stafford needs a quick trip to the blue medical tent.
The Rams would love for that answer to already be on the roster. Training camp will tell them whether it is.
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