The Los Angeles Rams have an interesting position battle that has been brewing for some time and should be approaching its conclusion this week. Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson have been competing to be Matthew Stafford's backup this season, splitting preseason reps the last two weeks.
Bennett, who has seemingly led the battle throughout camp, lost some ground during the team's preseason opener against Kansas City, with Simpson having a marvelous performance in his debut. After only playing one quarter in the opener, Bennett got a half against the New Orleans Saints. He dazzled, throwing for 181 yards and rushing for two touchdowns in the blowout win.
With the team's preseason finale this week, Gary Klein of the LA Times reports that Bennett continues to get the initial reps with the second-team offense, while Simpson worked after him.
Stetson Bennett was first up with the second-team offense. Ty Simpson also took some second-team reps.
If that didn't already indicate Bennett has confirmed his lead for the QB2 race, head coach Sean McVay stated Simpson will play in the finale, while Bennett's participation will be determined. Under McVay, the Rams historically have not played their QB2 in the finale.

#stetson

The Los Angeles Rams have one more preseason game to figure out who will make their final roster and who will be released. It's a nerve-racking time for any player on the roster bubble, and it's exciting as well. Some players are going to be disappointed as they won't make their team, other players will have their dreams come true.
The Rams have plenty of work to do to figure out their backup quarterback situation, they need to determine the look of their running back room, and more! So much to do, never enough time in the NFL.
To this point, the Rams are 2-0 and are having a nice preseason with Ty Simpson looking solid against the Kansas City Chiefs, and then Stetson Bennett looking confident against the New Orleans Saints. You could make the case that preseason is going exactly as it should for the Rams as their quarterbacks look serviceable, and their depth overall looks like a strength.
Take that all with a grain of salt. It's only preseason, and the Rams want to look good in the regular season, not just the preseason. That aside, take it for what it is. The Rams have looked good in August, and that's all they can do right now.
"LOS ANGELES — The Rams open the 2026 NFL regular season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. But first, they play one more preseason game Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers and then must cut their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.

#preseason #players #look #take

The Los Angeles Rams improved to 2-0 in the preseason with their win over the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, dominating from start to finish in the 34-0 victory. The Rams held out even more players than they did in the first preseason game, giving us further clarity on what the 53-man roster could look like when it's set next Sunday.
Desjuan Johnson, Ty Hamilton and Xavier Smith were among those who sat out the second preseason game after playing in the first, which is an indication that their roster spots are secured.
With just one week until final roster cuts, here's our latest projection for the Rams' initial 53-man squad, which features a couple of changes on defense.
Matthew Stafford
Stetson Bennett

#preseason #roster #game

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stetson Bennett passed for 181 yards and rushed for two TDs while leading the Rams to a 20-point halftime lead Saturday, and Los Angeles cruised to a 34-0 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Bennett went 19 of 31 while playing the entire first half for the Rams (2-0) before rookie Ty Simpson finished up.
Bennett is the Rams' presumptive backup to NFL MVP Matthew Stafford this season despite never playing in a regular-season game, but the former University of Georgia star turned in another in his history of strong preseason performances during his four seasons on the LA roster. He dived to the pylon for the Rams' first touchdown against New Orleans, and he scored again on a scramble in the second quarter while leading four substantial scoring drives.
The Saints (0-2) stirred up their own quarterback competition with Zach Wilson and Spencer Rattler playing one half apiece at SoFi Stadium, but neither prospective backup to Tyler Shough stood out during a rough overall outing for New Orleans.
Rattler moved the offense better than Wilson while facing the bottom of the Rams' defensive depth chart in the second half, but the Saints also made two goal-line turnovers, with Rattler throwing an interception that was returned for a 100-yard touchdown by safety Alex Cook.

#Rams #wilson

The Los Angeles Rams host the New Orleans Saints for some Week 2 NFL preseason action, and here's our how to watch guide! It may be preseason, but it's NFL action, and this game could impact each team's decisions regarding their backup quarterback rooms going into the 2026 season. You're going to want to watch this one.
Ty Simpson will likely look to build upon what was a nice showing last Saturday. Stetson Bennett, if given the chance, would likely like to have a bit of a better showing than what he showed last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. He als0 may have shown enough in practice to make the Rams feel good about Bennet as their QB2.
It's an interesting preseason for the Rams who legitimately appear to be trying to figure out the order of their quarterbacks room after Matthew Stafford.
The New Orleans Saints are in a similar spot. They appear to have their starting quarterback figured out with Tyler Shough, though he's only going into his second season. Who's going in behind Shough? The Saints are still figruing out that out. Spencer Rattler is a possibility, but similar to the Rams, after their starter, there seems to be some genuine competition in the QB room.
Who says preseason doesn't matter? Chat right her with other NFL fans and enjoy the game!

#action

The Los Angeles Rams are trying to sort out their quarterback room for the 2026 season. Matthew Stafford is returning as their starter, but it's unclear who will back him up after Jimmy Garoppolo opted not to return. Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson are competing for the QB2 job, and it might be a closer battle than anticipated.
Bennett has had the lead all year, but following Simpson's strong debut in the preseason, he's making things interesting. Simpson is obviously guaranteed a roster spot as a first-round rookie, but the problem is, he may not be ready to back up Stafford, and Bennett may be too good to cut.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network told Rich Eisen that he thinks the Rams will keep three quarterbacks, in part because he doesn't think Bennett will clear waivers if he's cut. He believes another team would claim Bennett, causing the Rams to lose him.
"To me, Stetson Bennett, I've seen him do this stuff that he's done in the preseason, I've seen Stetson Bennett do that live in person several times," he said. "I think Stetson Bennett understands this thing. He can get you through a stretch of games if you needed to. I would be of the idea of, 'Let's keep three and go that route,' but hey, maybe they want to save a roster spot and see if they can get Stetson Bennett down. I don't know that they'd be able to get him down to the practice squad without him getting claimed. I would lean towards three. I know a lot of teams don't want to do that, but where they are right now – if they end up making Ty the No. 2 with their expectations for this season going into the fall, that'll tell you that he's way ahead of schedule, in my opinion."
Bennett played well last preseason and looked comfortable in the first game against the Chiefs, but Simpson is already impressing in practice and the preseason, too. If the team is confident in Simpson being one injury away from starting games, he could get the nod.

#bennett #stetson #season

Week 2 of the preseason marks a pivotal point in the backup quarterback battle for the Los Angeles Rams, as Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson look to put on a show against the New Orleans Saints in a joint practice and in Saturday's game.
Bennett started the preseason opener in Kansas City, but Simpson dominated headlines with an efficient, effective performance that saw the Rams pull away in the fourth quarter. When asked on Monday, head coach Sean McVay stated that the joint practice would determine what this week's quarterback rotation will look like when the Rams make their 2026 SoFi Stadium debut.
"I think that will be predicated on how the practice against New Orleans goes, how tomorrow goes," said McVay. "I think what's been helpful for us is really just taking it a day at a time. I know I get myself out of whack when I get too far ahead of myself. We ask our players to stack days, be totally and completely present. I have not made that decision yet and genuinely, that is the truth.
"A large part of that decision will be predicated on what happens on Tuesday and then a lot of it, especially with what happens on Thursday. I'm hopeful that we're able to get as many reps as we did against Dallas. New Orleans has a practice against the Cowboys on Tuesday. Hopefully they come out of that thing healthy and we're able to get what Kellen [Moore] and I have talked about as the workload for our ones and twos. That'll be great situational work and great ability to be able to move the ball all over the field."
In Kansas City, Bennett played the first quarter, with Simpson finishing out the game. Starting quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to participate in the joint practice, as well, which will push Bennett to the second team and Simpson potentially out of the rotation again.

#quarterback

Ty Simpson didn't just have a great first NFL game; he had a historic one. The Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback became the first player since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to throw for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his preseason debut, according to ESPN. Simpson completed 21-of-25 passes with no turnovers or sacks in his first NFL action against the Chiefs.
Head coach Sean McVay said afterward that Simpson had "good command" of the offense, adding that he took what the defense gave him. Simpson himself stayed measured discussing the outing, saying that he still has a lot to learn about the offense.
The comparison to Mayfield's 2018 debut, where the ex-Browns quarterback completed 11-of-20 for 212 yards and two touchdowns without an interception against the Giants, is notable given how that game is remembered. Mayfield's rookie flash launched a run that included four teams in seven seasons. He played four seasons in Cleveland before a 2020 trade to the Panthers, a waiver claim by the Rams, and eventually a landing spot in Tampa Bay, where he's been the starting quarterback for the past three seasons.
Simpson's situation should look different by design. Los Angeles drafted him as the presumptive successor to Matthew Stafford, meaning his path, if things go according to plan, is a matter of patience rather than a search for the right fit.
Despite the strong debut, Simpson still technically needs to beat out Stetson Bennett for the No. 2 job behind Stafford, and he won't crack the starting lineup barring injury. The Rams will get more chances to evaluate his growth as the preseason continues, with his workload in a potential third preseason game offering another data point on where he stands in the quarterback pecking order heading into roster cuts.

#simpson #game #angeles

It's true that Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback aced his first NFL game. The first round pick led LA to a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
Simpson was accurate on over 90% of his throws. He demonstrated a level of mobility that is foreign to recent Rams quarterbacks. Simpson's arm strength was a visible notch above Stetson Bennett's, the other quarterback battling for the backup role behind Matthew Stafford.
Was the Rams' offense with Simpson at the helm world beating? Far from it. Simpson was surrounded by players on the fringes of LA's roster. It's a fair critique to say the offense felt overly conservative and ****** and dunk. Simpson grew more comfortable and aggressive as Saturday's game drew on, and we can still discern some important and encouraging metrics from his performance.
Let's bust a few myths from Simpson's first game:
Simpson's average depth of target (ADOT) came to 5.3 yards on 25 passes. That is overly conservative by NFL standards. Still, it's significantly higher Bennett's metric from the same game (although he was in for only two drives) of 3.2 yards.

#simpson #Rams #game

Former Alabama football quarterback Ty Simpson has officially made his highly anticipated NFL preseason debut.
One of the top quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL draft, Simpson did so Saturday with the Los Angeles Rams during the team's first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. A game played in Kansas City, the former Alabama quarterback came off the bench in place of starter Stetson Bennett IV, and went on to impress over his three quarters of action while leading the Rams to a 20-12 win.
In all, Simpson completed 21-of-25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The former Alabama quarterback also finished with a 125.0 passer rating.
An impressive showing for the former Alabama signal caller, here is a look at how social media reacted Saturday night to Simpson's preseason debut.
Contact/Follow us RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

#former #quarterback #follow

The Golden State Warriors have put together their teams through a variety of ways over the years, yet few approaches have proven as successful as the NBA draft. More than anything else, the most talented players to represent the Warriors have arrived in Golden State either by being selected directly in the annual draft or through trades executed on that same night.
The Golden State Warriors have taken many of their top stars through the draft, but have also landed a number of notable players over the years as well. From tiny colleges to blue blood programs, these alumni have contributed significantly to the team's roster over the years. So, we chose to take a closer look at which Dubs came from which schools over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Warriors out of Stetson.
Draft year and position: 3rd round (4th pick, 40th overall), 1975 NBA Draft
Seasons at Stetson: 1

#golden #years

The Los Angeles Rams started the preseason with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, riding their backups and reserves to a 20-12 win. Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson led the offense, while the second- and third-team defense kept the Chiefs out of the end zone for all 60 minutes.
It was a quality performance all around, but a handful of players stood out with particularly strong performances on the road.
How could Simpson not be considered a standout? He had the best stat line of any rookie quarterback in the preseason so far, completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdown passes were short, and one was on a screen to the running back, but the throws he made throughout the game were on time and with good accuracy.
We may not fully know what the Rams have in Simpson until he takes the reins from Matthew Stafford, but it was a great start in his NFL debut on Saturday.
Klare was Simpson's safety valve against the Chiefs, catching seven of eight targets for 37 yards. He caught a lot of short, quick passes in the flat, showing reliable hands at the catch point. He also blocked well in the run game, which will make him a player who could carve out a role for himself in the next two years.

#passes #saturday #preseason #short

Saturday brought the NFL debut of the Los Angeles Rams first-round pick and quarterback, Ty Simpson. It took two drives with Stetson Bennett as the starter to see the rookie, and the rest was history.
Simpson was pinpoint accurate and led LA to two scoring drives. He willed the Rams to a 20-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
There is more to come on Simpson as well as all encouraging and discouraging performances that came out of this game. Welcome to the first "winners & losers" of the 2026 season.
The Rams' offense was far from high-flying with Simpson under center. However, we always knew it would be. The preseason environment is tough on reserve quarterbacks. Teams across the NFL can barely field five competent offensive linemen. Their backups are even worse. Simpson effectively played with third stringers and still did not take a single sack in credit to his mobility.
And while things weren't necessarily dynamic or amazing, Simpson checked every single box someone could realistically want from him. Mobility? We saw it and he made some impressive throws on the move. Accuracy? Check. Arm strength? On display. Poise? We saw a whole lot of it.

#first

All eyes were on Ty Simpson for his NFL debut on Saturday afternoon at Arrowhead Stadium. It was the first preseason action for the Los Angeles Rams' top pick in the 2026 draft, giving fans a glimpse at what the future could hold once Matthew Stafford retires.
Simpson entered the game against the Chiefs at the end of the first quarter after Stetson Bennett played two possessions, much to the excitement of the Rams' faithful around the country. Though there were probably some pre-game jitters for the rookie quarterback, the moment certainly didn't look too big for him.
His first completion was a 7-yard dump-off to Max Klare on a roll-out to his right, getting the ball into the hands of a fellow rookie. It wasn't a highlight-reel play, but he took what the defense gave him, and that was an easy completion.
Simpson was just 1-for-2 on his first drive, which was a brief one that ended in a punt, but he found a rhythm on the second drive. He went 4-for-4 for 41 yards during drive No. 2, capping it off with a Harrison Mevis field goal from 40 yards to put the Rams up, 6-3.
His best throw on the drive was a 23-yarder to Mark Redman, once again on a boot out to his right. He layered the ball nicely to the tight end for a big gain.

#first #rookie #ball

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 20-9 in their preseason Week 1 matchup. It was a low-scoring affair for about three quarters until the Rams pulled away with multiple touchdowns late with passing scores from Ty Simpson to running back Dean Connors.
The running back room as a whole looked solid today, credit the blocking, but it was Connors who had the two scores to really put the game out of reach.
Stetson Bennett went 4-6 for 38 yards, and he started on Saturday, but it was Simpson who was given the longer leash as he went 21-25 with 190 yards and two passing TDs. He looked comfortable often, he took what was there, he let his receivers run after the catch, he opened up on couple throws late in the game to Max Clare and CJ Daniels.
Simpson looked and played like the best quarterback on the field today.
Throw in L.A.'s defense holding their ground by bending with some field goals allowed, but they kept KC out of the endzone (the Chiefs did have a few penalties to take away what would've been scores). L.A.'s special teams looked solid with Xavier Smith having a nice showing in the return game (no fumbles). Ethan Evans got his punts off and Harrison Mevis made his kicks with 2 field goals and 2 extra points.

#field #Rams

The Los Angeles Rams travel to take on the Kansas City Chiefs for some preseason Week 1 NFL action. This game will not be Matthew Stafford vs. Patrick Mahomes. That should come later in the regular season. This game will apparently feature some Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson, so there's a lot to watch for Rams fans on Saturday.
Similar to the Rams, the Chiefs also may be rolling out some quarterbacks that KC and other NFL teams will want to see. You never know which of these players will make a strong enough impression to stick with their current roster or find themselves with a real chance to play elsewhere.
For the Rams, their QB situation is seemingly still being figured out as far as who will be the official backup to the Matthew Stafford in 2026. There is a chance that the true backup for 2026 isn't on the roster, yet. However, Bennett and Simpson should get the chance to show they are ready starting against the Chiefs.
Now, it's preseason, so take it with a grain of salt, but all you can do is play in the situation you are in, and though it's preseason, it's ******* umed that Bennett and Simpson will want to play well. That aside, if you are going to make mistakes, make your mistakes in practice and in preseason, and learn from them.
So, will we learn anything from this matchup? Both teams and fanbases should learn something, but will those lessons learned impact the regular season? We don't know yet.

#make #chance

Ty Simpson is getting ready for his first taste of an NFL game this Saturday, even if it is only a preseason matchup. The Los Angeles Rams rookie will take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs as Stetson Bennett's backup, giving the coaching staff a look at what he can do in a game setting.
It's a big day for the first-round pick, who started just 15 games at Alabama in his college career. Matthew Stafford has been in Simpson's shoes as a former first-round pick himself, and having seen it all in his 18 years in the league, Stafford is the perfect person to mentor Simpson.
During his press conference on Thursday, Simpson shared one of the best pieces of advice he's gotten from Stafford.
"Yeah, to just be yourself," he said. "One of the best things Matthew said to me is, 'Don't try to be somebody else, just do it your way.' And a lot of times people get caught up in the mess of trying to do like somebody else, trying to be like whoever, but it is more about finding who you are and how things work and how tick."
Simpson talked to Stafford on Thursday morning, two days before kickoff in the preseason opener. Stafford asked him how he feels about his big NFL debut coming up, and told him to "just go let it rip."

#game #round

Los Angeles Rams first-round pick Ty Simpson is not expected to play a single snap all season long, barring an extreme blowout, though his exact role is still a mystery.
Simpson is serving as the third-string quarterback throughout the first phase of training camp, sitting behind Matthew Stafford and also Stetson Bennett, the former fourth-round pick.
While he won't play in the regular season, Sean McVay confirmed that Simpson will play in the preseason, likely getting a ton of run, though Bennett's status is still unknown, per the head coach.
Stafford is getting regular rest as he tries to limit the wear on his back, leaving a ton of snaps open for the quarterbacks, but so far, Bennet is getting most of them.
Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

#angeles #stafford #images #reuters

The Los Angeles Rams continue to steadily ramp things up before Week 1 of the regular season, putting on the pads at practice this week. Monday's session marked the fourth straight practice, wrapping up the second block of camp; Sean McVay structured the schedule to feature three blocks of practice, with one day off in between.
Matthew Stafford was back on the field Monday after sitting out Friday and Sunday's sessions, taking over first-team reps at quarterback after Stetson Bennett handled those duties in his absence. Bennett still had a strong day with the second-team offense, continuing to put his stamp on the QB2 battle with Ty Simpson.
Below are updates from practice, including a couple pieces of injury news.
Myles Garrett missed his fourth straight practice with lower body soreness, but he's expected to return on Wednesday.
Davis Allen is dealing with a quad injury and will be out for "some time." McVay said the Rams won't rush him back because it's a soft-tissue injury.

#injury #week

Former Georgia Bulldogs national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett is in a training camp battle for the Los Angeles Rams' No. 2 quarterback role behind NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. Bennett has turned in an impressive showing so far and has even earned some first-team reps.
Of course, Bennett's first-team reps are a result of Stafford's maintenance plan, where he takes off some days of practice. However, they are valuable experience for Bennett in case he is needed during a regular season game.
According to Rams Wire, Bennett has the early lead for the backup quarterback role. Bennett is beating out first-round pick Ty Simpson, who played college football at Alabama.
"Stetson Bennett came in as the favorite over Ty Simpson and neither player has done anything to change that," Cameron DaSilva wrote. "Bennett is getting most of the second-team reps (and first-team reps when Matthew Stafford is out), with Simpson getting limited opportunities in practice."
Bennett has frequently found rookie wide receiver CJ Daniels, who is having a strong camp.

#bennett #Rams

Ty Simpson has a long way to go before he'll be called upon by the Los Angeles Rams, only being in the early stages of his NFL career. On Friday, he took the field for just his fifth practice of training camp, and it sounds like it was his best yet.
The rookie quarterback is competing with Stetson Bennett to be the Rams' backup quarterback, a battle that Bennett is clearly leading so far. But if Simpson continues to progress and impress the coaching staff, he'll make things interesting behind Matthew Stafford.
According to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, Simpson had his best practice of camp, making "several impressive passes" throughout the day.
Sean McVay complimented Simpson's quicker release and command of the offense, getting in and out of the huddle more efficiently than he had been previously.
That's something that comes with time and experience, which Simpson will accumulate throughout camp and the season.

#practice

It seems Aaron Donald is not the only ex-member of the Los Angeles Rams that is considering unwinding his retirement. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Jimmy Garoppolo is open to playing in 2026 after mulling hanging up his cleats this spring.
From The Insiders: Jimmy Garoppolo considered retirement this spring but is very much open to playing this season in the right situation. Nothing imminent but he’s an experienced, veteran QB available for a team that might need one in the near future. pic.twitter.com/Q60E9tFCXD
— Mike Garafolo (MikeGarafolo) July 22, 2026
The Rams could still use Garoppolo’s services. Stetson Bennett is currently the primary understudy to Matthew Stafford in a year when expectations for LA are Super Bowl or bust. Bennett has never taken a regular season snap. Garoppolo brings a seasoned resume that can keep the team afloat if Stafford misses extended time.
One complication is the fact that Los Angeles drafted Ty Simpson in the first round this spring. Garoppolo may not want to join a quarterback room where he is in danger of losing playing time to a highly drafted rookie.

#mike #bennett

If the Rams end up needing another quarterback next year, whether it’s because Matthew Stafford retired, and/or Stetson Bennett is no longer on the roster, then the currently jobless Brendan Sorsby would be a great option in the 2027 draft.
Unable to play in the NFL, the CFL, or for a college program in 2026, Sorsby will be taking a year off following his sports gambling scandal at the NCAA level, betting on Indiana’s games while he was a member of the team. The NFL has separated itself from Sorsby this year by deciding to not have a supplemental draft, and so is the Canadian Football League after they officially barred Sorsby from signing with a team this year.
But as a player who has better tools than Bennett, and a ceiling comparable with some of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft, the Rams should take a long look at Sorsby as a day two or day three option now that he’s barred from playing football this year.
This is really unfortunate, as playing in the CFL would have been a fascinating opportunity for Sorsby to prove to the world—and the Rams—that he’s a rising star.
And he wouldn’t be the first. Here are a handful of great stories that started in the CFL, an opportunity that the league has decided to deny itself of with Sorsby.

By Steve Stout • UDCeditoraimmediamidwest.com
URBANA — The late Paul (Pete) Dye Jr. is known to many as the father of modern golf course design.
He was born in Urbana on Dec. 29, 1925, to Paul Frances “Pink” Dye and Elizabeth Johnson Dye.
Pete Dye’s lifelong career in golf began as a youngster, pulling weeds and caddying at Urbana Country Club, which was then a nine-hole course his father built in 1923 on the Johnson family farm.
Dye won a state golf championship while he was a student at Urbana High School. Upon graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the 82nd Airborne Parachute Infantry. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he continued his education at Rollins College and Stetson University in Florida.

Matthew Stafford will be back as the starting quarterback for the Rams once again this year as he enters his 18th season in the NFL. And while he has played the best football of his career in his later years, leading the Rams to Super Bowl LVI to cap the 2021 season and earning NFL MVP honors last season. So it's a good thing he'll be back for Los Angeles – but there's also an inherent higher risk for injury with an older quarterback.
And if Stafford doesn't end up injured at any point this coming season, it could be bad news for the Rams – because it's possible the rest of their quarterback room has regressed as a whole. The Rams say goodbye to Jimmy Garoppolo, who served as the backup during the past two seasons. The Rams figured they had made an upgrade when they secured Ty Simpson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
But now, it appears that might not be the case, or at least not immediately. Reports from NFL insider Jason La Canfora suggest that Simpson is currently the Rams' third-string quarterback, with the franchise favoring Stetson Bennett as the backup.
This likely won't be welcome news to Rams fans, as Bennett was the third-string signal-caller over the past two seasons in Los Angeles. While this could indicate that Bennett is finally developing into an NFL quarterback who is ready for playing time, it's also possible that Simpson isn't the talent the Rams thought they were getting. Bennett has risen to the backup spot by default.
And if the latter situation is the case, the Rams will have to rely on a player who likely isn't ready to be a backup to see significant playing time if their 38-year-old veteran quarterback can't make it through the season. And that's not a situation you particularly want to be in.

There is a narrative coming out of OTAs that Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett have yet to separate from each other in the battle for the QB2 role after Nate Atkins of The Athletic shared some insight from the offseason program.
For the Los Angeles Rams, their two options present two different dilemmas. Simpson is a first-round pick, the clear heir to Matthew Stafford, and a player who has a higher perceived ceiling than Bennett.
Bennett, on the other hand, knows the system like the back of his hand, has worked closely with ****** istants Nate Scheelhaase and Dave Ragone under Sean McVay, and has made tremendous strides in his development over the last few years, putting together an impressive 2025 preseason.
That dilemma will get solved in time. However, another narrative is that Simpson's lack of separation calls into question whether he was worth the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. There's absolutely no reason to worry this early.
In 2025, Bennett entered OTAs as the team's QB3 behind Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo. Bennett could not hit the broadside of a barn during practice. Perhaps a bit of an overexaggeration, but he was missing passes that are layups at the NFL level. Fast forward to training camp, and while Stafford was out with an injury, Bennett took a massive share of snaps, leading to him becoming sharper than ever.

The battle for the Los Angeles Rams' backup quarterback spot is officially heating up. And, according to one team insider, the competition is shaping up to be a lot tougher — and uglier — than fans might have hoped.
With Matthew Stafford entering his 18th NFL season, the QB2 role in Los Angeles will be a vital insurance policy so long as the veteran continues to play. The Rams originally planned to bring back veteran Jimmy Garoppolo to hold down the fort after two years in the position, but, with Garoppolo now leaning toward retirement, Sean McVay's squad is facing a sudden vacuum of veteran experience.
The keys to the backup role have been handed down to a pair of unproven young arms: Stetson Bennett, a 2023 fourth-rounder, and 2026 first-round rookie Ty Simpson.
Unfortunately for the coaching staff, neither quarterback managed to separate himself from the pack during recent offseason sessions, according to The Athletic's Nate Aktins.
Neither Bennett nor Simpson were able to stand out ahead of the other in these moments, as both worked on crossers, slants, outs and other basic routes, and neither produced much down the field. Bennett did have a lazy out throw that Trent McDuffie picked off, and Simpson overthrew a couple different deeper throws.

Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson knows he has a great situation in front of him: being able to learn from Matthew Stafford.
Simpson, who was the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, is already being taken under Stafford's wing just weeks into his NFL career. He called the opportunity a "blessing," but noted that he might be "annoying" the other Rams quarterbacks with his persistent questions.
"Being in the room with him is just, you know, such a blessing, and I really appreciate him and Stetson [Bennett] taking me in and answering all the questions I have," Simpson said. "I know I'm probably annoying them, but it's been really helpful, so I can't thank them enough."
Simpson will likely start his career as the Rams' third quarterback behind Stafford and Bennett, but the plan is for him to become the starter in a few years, once Stafford officially retires. The Alabama product threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions in 2025, his lone season as the starter for the Crimson Tide. He completed 64.5% of his passes and averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams rookie Ty Simpson jokes he's probably annoying Matthew Stafford

The Virginia Tech Hokies continue to turn over their 2026-27 basketball roster. While much of Tech’s offseason has been focused on adding veteran players via the NCAA transfer portal, head coach Mike Young deviated from that roster-building process on Monday, adding a commitment from 6-foot-8 wing Eltayeb Eltayeb announced his commitment to Virginia Tech.
Eltayeb is a native of Sudan, but played last season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. He played well, averaging 21.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Eltayeb also shot over 43% from 3-point range, giving Young another perimeter threat.
At 6-foot-8 and only 170 pounds, Eltayeb still has some growing to do. He’s built similarly to Virginia Tech newcomer, Kuol Atak, who transferred to the Hokies in March after spending two seasons at Oklahoma. Atak is 6-foot-9, 192 pounds, and is also an excellent outside shooter.
Eltayeb has guard-like skills. He’s grown over seven inches since entering high school. He is the first freshman addition to Virginia Tech’s 2026 recruiting class. The Hokies do have six players from the transfer portal.
G Ethan Copeland (Stetson)