Man, if you blinked, you missed it! The NFL preseason just wrapped up, and while it’s mostly about fringe roster players scrapping for a spot, one rookie quarterback, Ty Simpson, just lit it up so much that his draft day critics have to be eating crow right now. After being a controversial first-round pick by the Rams back in April, the former Alabama star absolutely dominated in his first taste of NFL action, proving exactly why he was taken so high.
Rookie Phenom Takes Center Stage
Simpson wasn’t just good, he was MVP-level in the preseason. Across three games, he completed an insane 47 of 60 passes, giving him a league-leading 78.4 percent completion rate. We’re talking 382 passing yards, three touchdowns, and zero turnovers while leading the Rams to multiple scoring drives. You saw a few throws that were just flat-out impressive, showing off that first-round talent. Remember that crazy grab by Brennan Presley in the endzone? Pure highlight reel stuff!
His debut against the Chiefs was truly special. He dropped 190 yards, two touchdowns, and somehow only had four incompletions. That’s a 21-for-25 stat line with a 125.0 passer rating. Sure, he wasn’t pushing the ball downfield every snap, but he ran the Rams’ gameplan to perfection. We all know Matthew Stafford is still the guy for the Rams as they chase a Super Bowl, so Simpson won’t see much regular season action. But these preseason reps? Crucial for him to show he belongs, and boy, did he ever.
Another QB Makes His Case
It wasn’t just Simpson making waves, though. Another quarterback, Joe Fagnano from the Ravens, put up some seriously eye-popping numbers too. Fagnano led the entire league with 509 passing yards and racked up a 74.7 percent completion rate, adding three touchdowns to just one interception. He soaked up a ton of playing time for the Ravens and made the most of every snap. Did you see that strike to LaJohntay Wester in the end zone? Pure gold!
With Tyler Huntley locked in as the Ravens’ backup, Fagnano’s performances were a huge statement. The UConn product proved he’s absolutely worth stashing as depth, whether that’s on a practice squad or as a third-stringer somewhere. He definitely showed off why teams need to keep an eye on him.
As the regular season is just a few weeks out, these guys made their case loud and clear. Simpson showed the Rams they got a gem for the future, and Fagnano proved he’s got what it takes to stick in the league. It’s going to be fun watching what these preseason standouts do next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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