Rams Confirm Simpson to Start Over Bennett in Preseason Opener
Head coach Sean McVay has confirmed Ty Simpson will take the snaps for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 preseason opener, leaving Stetson Bennett’s participation undecided as the team navigates its quarterback depth chart.
The Los Angeles Rams have confirmed that rookie quarterback Ty Simpson will start over Stetson Bennett in the opening game of the 2026 NFL preseason. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed Simpson will play, while leaving the decision on Bennett's participation undecided. Simpson and Bennett are competing for the backup role behind starter Matthew Stafford.
Simpson, a first-round draft pick, is being positioned as the successor to Matthew Stafford. The Rams intend to carry three quarterbacks on their roster, with Stafford and Simpson considered 'givens', though Bennett's status as the primary backup remains to be determined. McVay is allowing Simpson to take the spotlight in the opener to prove his worth to critics, while keeping Bennett on the sidelines for now.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the organisation values the progress Bennett has shown in his fourth offseason with the team. The Rams plan to carry three quarterbacks on their roster, with Stafford and Simpson considered 'givens', though Bennett's status as the primary backup remains to be determined.
It remains unclear whether Bennett will play in the opener or later in the preseason. The final decision on who serves as Stafford’s primary backup between Simpson and Bennett has not been made. The long-term roster status of Bennett beyond the preseason is uncertain.
Claims regarding Bennett’s future being 'in question' or that the team is 'throwing their chips into Simpson' are interpretive and should be phrased cautiously as media speculation rather than confirmed organisational strategy. The phrase 'Stetson Bennett IV' appears in the source; verify if this is a typo for 'Stetson Bennett' or refers to a specific designation, as the player is commonly known as Stetson Bennett.
The source article is dated for the 2026 preseason; ensure the temporal context is clear that this is a future scenario relative to the current date. Matthew Stafford is the established starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. Ty Simpson was drafted specifically as Stafford’s potential successor. Stetson Bennett has been with the Rams for four offseasons. The competition is for the second-string quarterback slot behind Stafford.
