The Los Angeles Rams will “definitely” play rookie quarterback Ty Simpson in the preseason, a dramatic difference between how Sean McVay typically treats the franchise’s most important players, but also one that has been expected since the draft. With Simpson needing as many reps he can get after a limited number of starts in college, L.A.‘s number one pick, and 13th overall, will get every opportunity possible to start acclimating to the speed of the NFL in preseason, according to McVay himself.
Stetson Bennett’s status for the preseason has yet to be determined, but if he’s declared the backup to Matthew Stafford, it’s unlikely that he will see the field at all. That’s another dramatic change from how things used to be done.
Bennett has played basically every snap at quarterback over the last two preseasons, but the 29-year-old was only QB3 at the time. Jimmy Garoppolo, the backup, was rested.
Now that the tables have turned, unless the Rams bring back Garoppolo or a different veteran quarterback, Bennett will be getting the important veteran treatment and Simpson will play the majority of the snaps in the preseason. Fourth-string quarterback Matthew Caldwell is clearly only in camp so that he can spell Simpson during the preseason.
Caldwell could be a good bet to play the entire third preseason game, depending how Simpson’s first start goes.
The Rams open the preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs next Saturday.
