The Rams three preseason games are in the books, and head coach Sean McVay still can’t decide if their backup quarterback will be Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson.
McVay has said both players will make their final 53-man roster, but both players desperately want to be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Matthew Stafford. After the Rams final preseason game on Thursday though, McVay wasn’t ready to commit to anything during his postgame press conference.
Sean McVay didn’t commit to a No. 2 QB tonight between Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson. He said he likes what he’s seen out of both and will make the decision after giving it more thought.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) August 28, 2026
Sean McVay can’t decide who should be the Rams backup quarterback this year
Both Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson have had great moments throughout the preseason. Simpson shined during their first game a few weeks ago while Bennett had a solid performance during their second game. They both have shown they’re probably good enough to be the Rams backup quarterback this season, but they can only choose one player.
Bennett has the advantage of being with the Rams for longer than Simpson. The Rams offense is said to be extremely complex, so the three extra years he’s been with the organization gives him a leg up over Simpson.
It’s unclear if that advantage is enough though. Even though Simpson has only been with the team for a few months, he’s already shown a good understanding of the offense in their preseason games. Sure this has occurred against the backups and players who won’t even make the final roster of these other NFL teams, but so far Simpson has played well in the opportunities he has gotten.
Bennett however has played well too, and that’s why McVay is struggling to make a final decision.
Ty Simpson capitalized on the extra opportunities he got over Stetson Bennett
Unfortunately for Bennett, Simpson got more opportunities during their preseason games. They did split time in their second game, but Simpson played three quarters of their first game and started their final game while Bennett didn’t even see the field in their last game.
This however isn’t a bad sign for Bennett. The Rams, along with most other NFL teams, typically rest their starters and established players throughout the preseason. Bennett sitting doesn’t mean Simpson has passed him on the depth chart, rather it means he’s shown the Rams enough about what type of player he is so instead of risking injury they’re fine with him sitting on the sideline. That in turn could actually be a sign that he’s already won the backup job.
Bennett also has been getting first team reps during practice when Stafford has been getting extra rest. That again shows that Bennett may have a slight lead over Simpson right now.
The Rams will eventually name their backup quarterback over the next week or so, and it realistically could be Stetson Bennett or Ty Simpson. Bennett however is hoping it is him so he can be No. 2 on the depth chart for the first time in his career which could give him opportunities to play during the regular season for the first time as well. This is critical for him since his contract expires after this season, so he needs every chance he can get to try and earn a new contract with the Rams or another NFL team next offseason.
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