The Los Angeles Rams just wrapped up an unbeaten preseason, largely driven by some seriously strong quarterback play, securing a tight 20-18 win over the Chargers. Now, with the critical 53-man regular season roster deadline looming, the focus shifts entirely to who earned their keep. Ty Simpson, the rookie quarterback, absolutely made his case.
Simpson’s Preseason Numbers Are No Joke
Simpson stepped up huge in Thursday night’s finale. He finished the game against the Chargers completing 18 of 23 passes, a crisp 78%, for 119 yards, including an impressive touchdown throw while on the run. You gotta respect that. Across the entire preseason, he was 47 of 60 for 382 yards, tossed three scores, had zero turnovers, and sported a sparkling 109.9 passer rating. That’s efficiency, plain and simple.
Sure, his average depth of target (ADOT) was initially the lowest among all rookie signal-callers at 4.80 air yards in the first two games. He bumped that up to 6.1 yards against the Chargers, but it still puts him at the bottom of the rookie list. Honestly, who cares right now? He’s checking all the boxes that matter: short and intermediate accuracy, value-add mobility, throwing on the run, dodging sacks, and just showing pure composure out there. A lot of people didn’t like the pick initially, but Simpson’s won over a lot of fans. This guy seems to be a high-floor player, making hardly any mistakes. That’s a huge win for the Rams, cementing his spot as Stafford’s backup.
The Big Questions Still Loom for Simpson’s Future
Look, while Simpson clearly solidified his backup status, there are still some big unknowns. We haven’t seen him airing it out deep, and it’s fair to wonder if that efficiency can stick when the offense demands more consistent aggression. His ceiling as a potential franchise quarterback, maybe even taking over as soon as 2027? That’s still a complete mystery. The preseason didn’t really show us anything on that front. It’s a classic situation: high floor, but the ceiling is still nowhere in sight. But for now, he’s made the most convincing case possible to be the immediate QB2.
Running Back Room: Tough Decisions Ahead
Over in the running back room, things are looking tough for some guys. The Rams’ backfield seems pretty set with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Coach Sean McVay is big on Rivers, trusting him and loving what he brings on special teams. Then, just hours before kickoff, Jarquez Hunter got traded to the Miami Dolphins for Tutu Atwell. That move created an opportunity for Dean Connors and Jordan Wat to step up, but with the established guys and McVay’s clear preference, Connors is facing an uphill battle.
The roster cuts are happening soon, and every team needs to finalize their 53-man squad. For the Rams, the immediate future for Simpson and Connors will be decided in the next few days. It’s a huge moment for these guys.
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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