Rams announce Ty Simpson, Stetson Bennett decisions that could reveal backup QB plan

The Los Angeles Rams play their first NFL game in under a month, but they begin their preseason this upcoming Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Matthew Stafford and a large portion of the starters will not be playing for obvious reasons, but seeing who gets the start at quarterback between Stetson Bennett and Ty Simpson is very interesting.

According to Rams reporter Stu Jackson, Sean McVay and the Rams have made their decision. Simpson is not the preseason starting QB, as Bennett will get the first chance to start for the Rams this preseason over the first-round pick.

Rams announce Stetson Bennett starts over Ty Simpson for NFL preseason

"Sean McVay said Stetson Bennett will start Saturday's preseason opener against the Chiefs," Jackson reports. "Ty Simpson will also play."

The Rams are not going to be starting Stafford during the preseason opener on the road against the Rams, but they will be seeing their 2026 first-rounder in action.

But Simpson is not starting for the Rams, potentially indicating that the team's current plan for the backup QB job in 2026 will be for Bennett to back up Stafford.

Simpson might end up being the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart at the start of the season for the Rams. That's currently where he's slotted right now.

Bennett is a 28-year-old quarterback in his third season out of Georgia, and last preseason he threw for 512 yards on 68.8% completion percentage with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

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While he's been active during the preseason, Bennett has not once been a part of the regular-season game plan for the Rams.

Simpson is a rookie at 23 years old and will be getting his first NFL action during the preseason opener against the Chiefs. But he's not going to start for the Rams.

Last year for Alabama, Simpson threw for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was drafted No. 13 overall and is the future of the QB position for the Rams.

But with Simpson not set to start the first preseason game, he's still third on the depth chart and seemingly a few steps from making his actual NFL regular-season debut.

There's still plenty of time to make up ground and take the QB2 job from Bennett. But for now, Simpson appears to be firmly in third place, as he's not starting the first preseason game of the year for the Rams.

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