Sean McVay dropped a bombshell on Monday, telling reporters he still has no clue who will be Matthew Stafford’s backup for Week 1 against the 49ers. This isn’t just some routine camp battle, folks. Les Snead went big, using a first-round pick on Ty Simpson this year, and even *that* hasn’t made the choice clear. Neither Simpson nor Stetson Bennett has been consistent enough, or had enough opportunity in preseason, to make McVay’s decision an obvious one. The pressure is on, with final cuts looming.
Preseason Rollercoaster: Simpson vs. Bennett
This quarterback competition has been a total wild card. In Week 1 of the preseason, Ty Simpson was the one making headlines. He completed a ridiculous 84 percent of his passes for nearly 200 yards and threw two touchdowns, looking like the guy for the job. McVay has already confirmed Simpson will play in their final preseason game against the Chargers.
But then Week 2 rolled around, and the narrative completely flipped. Stetson Bennett, who barely saw the field in Week 1, took the reins and received the bulk of the playing time. He made the most of it, leading the Rams to a dominant 34-0 victory over the Saints. Now, McVay hasn’t even decided if Bennett will get any more reps in the preseason finale. It’s a high-stakes puzzle, and McVay openly admitted he doesn’t know who will be QB2 when the real games kick off.
Rams Roster Shuffle: Hello, Devean Deal?
While the QB drama unfolds, the Rams also made some roster moves on Monday. They officially signed edge rusher Devean Deal and cornerback Steven Gilmore to their roster. To make space, cornerback Zech McPhearson and edge rusher Keir Thomas were placed on injured reserve.
And get this, Seattle fans, remember Devean Deal? The undrafted free agent out of TCU actually signed with *our* Seahawks right after the draft. But his stay in the Emerald City was short-lived, as he was cut on May 14 to make room for wide receivers Rashad Rochelle and Trayvon Rudolph. Now, he’s landed with the Rams, looking for his shot. Steven Gilmore, meanwhile, is coming over from the UFL, a cool #UFLtoNFL story.
The Rams have one last chance to sort out this backup QB mess in their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. By Sunday, the decision will be made as teams across the league trim their rosters down to 53 players. Will it be the high-draft-pick Simpson or the gritty comeback kid Bennett? L.A. needs an answer, and fast, before they face the 49ers in Week 1.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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