Ty Simpson’s first preseason outing gave the Rams exactly the kind of answer they wanted.
In Saturday’s 20-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the rookie quarterback looked comfortable running Sean McVay’s offense and did enough to quiet plenty of the noise around Los Angeles’ draft-day decision to take him at No. 13 in April. With 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford still holding the QB1 job, the Rams drew plenty of criticism for adding a quarterback that high while their current starter was still rolling. Simpson, though, made a strong case that the future is in decent hands.
The day started with a throw that showed more than just arm talent. McVay had Simpson roll to his right with a deep shot apparently available, but the rookie kept his eyes disciplined and worked to his nearest option instead.
He found rookie tight end Max Klare, who came off his blocking assignment and opened up for the short gain. No panic, no forcing it.
Just a smart, calm play that set the tone.
There's no doubt that the Rams kept things simple for Simpson.
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@BGMediaOnSI) August 16, 2026
First play is a play action boot to the right. Rams move the launch point. However, Simpson waits for Klare to release off his block to hit him. Good understanding of where the play's supposed to go. pic.twitter.com/7G79kkRI0J
Later, Simpson showed the kind of field vision that can make this offense hum. On his second touchdown pass to Dean Connors, he held the Chiefs with a look to the right before coming back left and fitting the ball into the end zone. That sort of manipulation is exactly what McVay’s system asks for.
The Rams have long built their offense around making defenses think too much. McVay once called it “the illusion of complexity.”
But the machine still needs a quarterback who can process quickly, make sharp decisions and also threaten deep. Stafford fit that formula when the Rams landed him in the blockbuster January 2021 trade for Jared Goff, and Simpson showed Saturday that he has some of the same traits that matter most in this system.
His college tape helped sell the Rams on him, too. At Alabama, he flashed the quick processing and coverage recognition that boosted his draft stock. Last season in Kalen DeBoer’s offense, he kept showing he could work through progressions and attack the intermediate part of the field with confidence.
Of course, the “it's just one game crowd” will still have plenty to say. And there’s a fair argument that Simpson was facing reserves and players fighting for jobs on the Chiefs’ side. That part isn’t going away.
It's subtle, but this is good eye manipulation from Ty Simpson.
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@BGMediaOnSI) August 16, 2026
Gets the LB moving to the right with his eyes, which opens up the space for Connors.
Simpson finds the Rams UDFA RB in the end zone an easy touchdown. pic.twitter.com/uBUkDLqZkN
Still, Rams fans got a useful early glimpse. Simpson didn’t just survive his debut - he looked like a quarterback who belongs in this offense. And for a team thinking beyond Stafford, that matters.
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 🡒]