Stetson

Bennett

After getting through the third and final dress rehearsal before the Rams kick off Week 1 in Australia, McVay said he won’t be “pigeon-holding” himself into any decision just yet. Rookie Ty Simpson and fourth-year vet Stetson Bennett have both performed well for the Rams this preseason, with Bennett sitting out Thursday’s game against the Chargers. The decision to sit Bennett on Thursday, coupled with the 62 snaps he saw in the preseason to Simpson’s 111, could be a signal as to which way McVay is leaning at this point, although he is on record saying we shouldn’t read too much into that. Regardless, the good news for McVay and Rams fans is that Matthew Stafford is healthy and will hopefully be under center for all 17 of the Rams’ games this season as he looks to defend his crown as the reigning league MVP.

Rookie Ty Simpson and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett have both turned in solid performances in the team’s first two preseason games. Bennett drew the start in the first preseason game and has thrown for 219 scoreless yards on 37 attempts, while Simpson has thrown for 263-2-0, also on 37 attempts. McVay has already said that Simpson will “definitely” play in the team’s preseason finale against the Chargers, but didn’t commit to Bennett seeing snaps as well.

Atkins doesn’t seem impressed with Bennett (who has “fallen victim to a couple of greedy mistakes”) or Ty Simpson (“isn’t going downfield much”) early in camp and suggests that the unsigned Jimmy Garoppolo could just be a phone call away if Simpson isn’t able to win the QB2 job. We’ll see what happens, but Garoppolo lingering as a free agent could keep some upside injury runouts off the table for Simpson this year.

With Matthew Stafford likely to have another limited training camp as he manages a back issue for the second straight year, rookie No. 13 pick Ty Simpson and former fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett are battling for the backup role. Though the team wants Jimmy Garoppolo back, the vet is mulling retirement, leading to one of these two unproven arms to be thrust into the backup quarterback role. Atkins reports Bennett took reps first in Stafford’s two missed practices in minicamp but neither Bennett nor Simpson “were able to stand out ahead of the other.” The Rams consider the backup role a significant void “with Stafford’s need to take time off and with the risk from each time Stafford takes a hit”, according to Atkins. A season in which Stafford misses time due to injury already decreases the Rams’ contention odds and an unprepared Simpson or Bennett as QB2 would be costly. Both will have time for developmental reps in camp and Simpson is worth rostering in Dynasty fantasy football formats.

In other words, like last year, expect Stafford to not be given all of the reps in training camp or (likely any of them) in preseason. This is mentioned as Barshop notes that the Rams have yet to address backup quarterback. Kirk Cousins, who was mentioned as a potential backup option, signed with the Raiders late last week. McVay said at the meetings that Jimmy Garoppolo’s return is “less likely than likely.” As things currently stand, Stetson Bennett would be getting a lot of training camp reps with the 1s. We expect there’ll be a different answer than that when it’s actually August, but that’s where things stand now.

Adams has been rehabbing this hamstring injury for weeks. He played through it without issue in Week 14 but suffered a re-injury in Week 15. Tonight’s absence was expected. It gives rookie WR Konata Mumpfield a chance to establish himself as a contributor, though expectations must be held in check. He should not be started in re-draft formats. The Rams also declared CB Ahkello Witherspoon, QB Stetson Bennett IV, RB Jarquez Hunter, OL Beaux Limmer and OLB Nick Hampton inactive in Week 16 against the Seahawks.

The Rams enter the day with a 9-2 record and are operating at nearly full strength against the Panthers. Whether by land or by air, the Rams should have no trouble moving the ball against a Panthers defense that ranks 18th in yards allowed but will be without its top corner in Jaycee Horn.

Ferguson is inactive with the Rams getting Parkinson back from a shoulder injury. Braden Fiske is also active after being considered questionable with an oblique issue.

The Rams have all of their key players active and ready to go for Sunday’s tilt with the Eagles. In a game that’s expected to feature near-freezing conditions and snow, we’ll see how the Rams’ offense fares away from the cozy confines of SoFi Stadium.

Robinson missed the first two practices of the week and got in a limited session Wednesday. The 30-year-old is a risky FLEX play for Thursday night’s contest against San Francisco where the reward doesn’t outweigh said risk. The Rams inactives for Week 15 are QB Stetson Bennett, CB Cobie Durant, RB Cody Schrader, OLB Brennan Jackson, OL Dylan McMahon, and OL Warren McClendon Jr.