Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson absolutely balled out this weekend, dropping 190 yards and two touchdowns in their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The dude, who the Rams surprisingly snagged with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, completed an insane 21 of 25 passes. That kind of efficiency from a rookie in his first taste of NFL action? Yeah, that’s not just promising, it’s flat out electric for the Rams.
Rookie QBs Steal the Show
Simpson wasn’t shy about how good he felt, telling reporters, “I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever had coming into a game.” Head coach Sean McVay was all praise after the game, highlighting how Simpson “took what the defense gave him,” “read the plays out, read with his feet,” and ultimately “kept the ball in play.” McVay called that “the biggest thing,” and you can bet it’s got the coaching staff buzzing. Simpson is battling Stetson Bennett for that backup spot behind Matthew Stafford, but if he keeps slinging it like this, he’s going to make that a tough decision for the Rams.
Over on the East Coast, New York Jets rookie Cade Klubnik made a surprise start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because Geno Smith was sidelined with a sore ankle. Klubnik, a fourth-round pick from the same draft, didn’t just play, he *delivered*. He marched the Jets offense to scoring drives on both of his possessions, finishing 5 of 7 for 56 yards before he handed over the keys. Klubnik was stoked, saying he “knew Geno was only going to play maybe eight to 10 plays and I was ready to go in early after that. So in my mind, I just got to go in eight to 10 plays earlier.” While Geno is still the expected starter, our guy Ralph Vacchiano even floated the idea of Klubnik starting games this season after training camp, and after a performance like that, who can argue?
Quarterback Battles and Farewell Tours
The quarterback carousel kept spinning in Cleveland, too. Deshaun Watson got the start for the Browns in their loss to the Chicago Bears, going 11 of 15 for 126 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers. Shedeur Sanders, though, struggled a bit more, completing 6 of 11 for 79 yards with no scores and an interception. Browns head coach Todd Monken offered a “measured perspective” on the competition, meaning this battle is far from over.
Beyond the QB action, we got a couple of big defensive line updates. Veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, a huge presence for the Dallas Cowboys for years, announced his upcoming retirement. That’s a tough loss for the Cowboys, for sure. And over in Los Angeles, Aaron Donald worked out with the Rams for the second time this month. Sean McVay updated the media on Donald, which is always good news when it comes to one of the league’s most dominant players.
With rookie QBs lighting it up and veteran D-linemen making headlines, the preseason is already serving up some wild storylines. You gotta wonder if these young guns can keep this momentum going. The next slate of games is gonna be crucial to see if Simpson and Klubnik are real deals, or if this was just a flash. Get ready, football fans, because things are heating up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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