The battle for the Los Angeles Rams’ backup quarterback spot is officially heating up. And, according to one team insider, the competition is shaping up to be a lot tougher — and uglier — than fans might have hoped.
With Matthew Stafford entering his 18th NFL season, the QB2 role in Los Angeles will be a vital insurance policy so long as the veteran continues to play. The Rams originally planned to bring back veteran Jimmy Garoppolo to hold down the fort after two years in the position, but, with Garoppolo now leaning toward retirement, Sean McVay’s squad is facing a sudden vacuum of veteran experience.
The keys to the backup role have been handed down to a pair of unproven young arms: Stetson Bennett, a 2023 fourth-rounder, and 2026 first-round rookie Ty Simpson.
Unfortunately for the coaching staff, neither quarterback managed to separate himself from the pack during recent offseason sessions, according to The Athletic’s Nate Aktins.
Neither Bennett nor Simpson were able to stand out ahead of the other in these moments, as both worked on crossers, slants, outs and other basic routes, and neither produced much down the field. Bennett did have a lazy out throw that Trent McDuffie picked off, and Simpson overthrew a couple different deeper throws.
It’s just not as simple as it was with Jimmy Garoppolo, who had started 63 games before he became Stafford’s backup the past two seasons.
This was always the crux of leaning on inexperienced backups. Garoppolo provided a stable floor, but has plans away from the Rams now. He reportedly almost joined the Arizona Cardinals before the retirement rumors. Although McVay said he’d always welcome Garoppolo back, the Rams head coach also noted that the team isn’t looking at adding another veteran quarterback at the moment.
Stafford remains an elite competitor, but McVay needs to manage his veteran’s workload, and the inherent risk of a hit on the 38-year-old starter is always in the back of the front office’s mind. Time will tell if Bennett can capture his old college magic or if Simpson can adapt quickly to the pro game.
For now, the Rams find themselves in the middle of a grinding, unpredictable position battle that could define their season if Stafford ever has to miss a snap.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams insider reveals a stark truth about QB2 battle
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Rams Wire | USA TODAY Network
