Ty Simpson gave the Rams exactly the kind of preseason spark teams hope to see from a backup quarterback.
In Los Angeles’ 20-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, Simpson carved up the Chiefs’ reserves, completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores went to D. Connors, who finished the day with a 9-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter and then capped the game with a 2-yard grab moments later.
The Rams spent most of the afternoon winning the little battles that matter in these August games. They took the first lead on a 25-yard field goal from H.
Mevis in the opening quarter, then answered every Kansas City kick until the game tilted for good late in the fourth. Mevis added a 40-yarder before halftime, and the teams went into the break tied 6-6 after Harrison Butker matched him with field goals from 37 and 35 yards for the Chiefs.
Kansas City never found the end zone. Garrett Nussmeier went 13 of 19 for 98 yards, while the Chiefs’ offense leaned on the run game and got 59 yards on 12 carries from Emmett Johnson. Cyrus Allen led Kansas City’s receivers with 20 yards on two catches.
Los Angeles also got more than enough from its ground game to keep the pressure on. Jarquez Hunter ran for 35 yards on nine carries, and Brennan Presley led the Rams’ pass catchers with 58 yards on four receptions.
The box score backed up what unfolded on the field. Los Angeles finished with 294 total yards to Kansas City’s 273 and posted 6.0 yards per play compared with 4.7 for the Chiefs. The Rams were the cleaner, sharper team, and Simpson’s fourth-quarter finish turned a close preseason game into a comfortable one.
In Other News...
Max Klare Is Forcing A Rams Roster Decision Early
The Rams added Ohio State tight end Max Klare in the 2026 draft even with an already crowded room at the position, and his first preseason outing gave the front office something to think about right away. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Klare caught seven of eight targets for 37 yards and showed enough as both a blocker and a receiver to stand out in a game where roster hopefuls are trying to separate themselves fast.
For a team that already had bodies at tight end, that kind of debut matters because it can change the conversation from developmental piece to immediate contender for a 53-man spot. Klare still has more proving to do, but the early signs suggest the Rams may have a tougher decision on their hands than they expected when they made the pick. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Connors Just Forced A Rams Backfield Debate
Dean Connors gave the Rams a useful preseason jolt in the opener, showing up as more than just a camp body fighting for attention. The undrafted rookie scored twice and flashed the kind of versatility teams always say they want from the back end of a roster, handling work as a runner, receiver and blocker in the same game. For a Los Angeles team always looking for cost-controlled depth, that kind of performance at least forces a second look.
The problem for Connors is that a strong debut does not erase the crowded reality in front of him. The Rams have a competitive running back room, and roster math can be unforgiving for an undrafted player even after a night like this. If Connors does not stick in Los Angeles, his blend of skills could make him an easy target for another team willing to pounce. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Put Ethan Evans On Notice With Curious Special Teams Move
The Rams made a curious special teams addition this week by bringing in punter Jack Bouwmeester, an Australia native who had been with the 49ers before moving on. The move gives Los Angeles some extra preseason depth at the position and adds a little more attention to Ethan Evans, who already looked the part in terms of leg strength but left some coverage questions hanging after his most recent preseason work.
Bouwmeesters arrival does not necessarily signal a full-blown competition, but it does put another leg in the building as the Rams sort through their special teams options. For Evans, the message is clear enough: big distance alone may not be enough if the rest of the operation does not line up, and the team now has another punter around to keep that discussion going. [Read more 🡒]