Stetson Bennett will start at quarterback for the LA Rams in their first preseason game of the year against the Kansas City Chiefs. Bennett is in a heated competition with rookie quarterback Ty Simpson to be the Rams backup this season, and with that obviously comes a lot of pressure. Bennett however doesn’t sound too worried about that as he is focused solely on just being the best version of himself.
"I just want to go out there and be the best that I can be." pic.twitter.com/tEGnyERBUx
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 13, 2026
Head coach Sean McVay has said that both Bennett and Simpson will play on Saturday against the Chiefs, but he failed to say how much playing time each will get. Bennett however will start the game, and it’s very important that he takes advantage of every snap he gets.
Stetson Bennett vs Ty Simpson competition reaches a climax during Rams first preseason game
Throughout training camp Stetson Bennett has had the upper hand over Ty Simpson. That however could quickly change during the Rams’ first preseason game on Saturday.
The Rams have opted to keep starting quarterback Matthew Stafford sidelined for every preseason game. They also hold him out of practice at times to preserve his health as well, and when they do that Bennett has gotten the nod to play with the starters.
A good performance in the Rams’ game on Saturday could further cement himself as their No. 1 backup. It also could help him sell himself next offseason when his contract is up when he’s a free agent: Conversely, a big day from Ty Simpson could flip the competition in his favor.
The battle between Bennett and Simpson is far from over, and their performances on Saturday will be the biggest selling point for why both players either deserve to be second on the depth chart or why they aren’t ready for that title.
LA Rams may have an ulterior motive in letting Stetson Bennett start their first preseason game
Not only are the Rams giving Bennett another chance to earn the backup spot on Saturday, but they may have an ulterior motive in mind. Most NFL teams don’t carry three quarterbacks on their active roster, so they might be letting Bennett play in hopes that he will do well enough so they can trade him later.
Sean McVay previously stated that Bennett was unlikely to play during the preseason. That typically is what the Rams do with their more veteran players every year, so it wouldn’t have been surprising if they chose to do that. McVay however changed his mind a few days later, and setting up for a potential trade down the road might be why.
At some point during the season there could be a few teams in need of a new quarterback. They may have a hard time finding someone to sign, but they could trade for a player like Bennett.
The Rams will likely move on from Bennett after his contract expires this season, so it isn’t a bad idea to try and get some value for him instead of letting him walk for free next offseason. Allowing Bennett to play gives him a chance to prove himself to the entire NFL, so if a team becomes desperate enough they might pursue a trade with the Rams to get him during the season.
That might be the best scenario for Bennett so he can finally get some meaningful regular season snaps, but it’s impossible to know how likely that is to occur. There is definitely a chance the Rams could try to trade him during this season though, so that makes Saturday’s game even more important for his future.
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