Rams Backup QB Battle Heats Up | California News

0:00It's September 4th. I'm Corey with the story, and this is California News today, your AI-powered local news. The Los Angeles Rams had a bit of a back-up quarterback situation brewing all preseason. Initially, Stetson Bennett seemed to have the second string spot locked down. But after the first preseason game, where Ty Simpson put up some solid numbers, think 21 completions on 25 throws for 100, 90 yards and two touchdowns. Things got interesting. The coaching staff started giving Simpson more reps, making it look like a real competition. Simpson's performance dipped a little in the second preseason game, but he bounced back in the finale against the chargers. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Despite Simpson showing flashes, the team's week one depth chart released the head of their game against the 49ers, Liszt Stetson Bennett as the primary, back up to Matthew Stafford. You could argue Simpson did enough in the preseason to earn that back up role. While Bennett had his moments, Simpson appeared more consistent. This puts the Rams in a tough

1:03spot if Stafford were to miss any time. Stafford has been pretty durable, but if he went down, the team might be in trouble regardless. The question is, who would you rather have stepping in? The Rams seemed to be taking a page from their own playbook, similar to when they had John Wolford, a head of Baker Mayfield in 2022. While experience and athleticism matter, the upside might lean towards Simpson. However, they're prioritizing Bennett's experience for now, which is a common approach for developing younger talent like Simpson. Ultimately, the Rams are bringing Simpson along slowly, which is typical for rookies, especially those with less college experience. It's not uncommon to see a more season player like Bennett ahead on the depth chart. The gap between the two isn't huge, and the Rams can always reassess as the season goes on, and Simpson gets more comfortable with the offense. For now, they're betting on Bennett's familiarity.