Rams’ Sean McVay Hasn’t Decided How He’ll Split Preseason QB Reps Behind Stafford
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay still hasn’t settled on his preseason quarterback plan, and with the exhibition slate opening in a little over a week, the clock is ticking on one of training camp’s most closely watched position battles.
One part of the plan is already locked in. Matthew Stafford won’t play a single preseason snap. The 38-year-old, coming off an MVP season, doesn’t need the reps, and McVay has no interest in exposing his starter to unnecessary risk in games that don’t count. That part of the equation has been clear for weeks.
What happens behind him is the actual story. McVay has yet to determine how he’ll divide snaps between Stetson Bennett and rookie Ty Simpson once the games start, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.
A familiar setup, different names
The situation echoes last summer. In 2025, both Stafford and then-backup Jimmy Garoppolo sat out the entire preseason, and Bennett took over as the starter for the first two exhibition games. He made the most of it, throwing for 512 yards and five touchdowns while showing sharper decision-making than in years past.
Garoppolo is gone now, and the backup job is up for grabs. Bennett, entering his fourth NFL season, has taken advantage of the opening. Camp reports have described him commanding the huddle with more confidence than before, and he’s earned praise from McVay along the way. But Simpson isn’t just some camp arm keeping the seat warm. The Rams took him in the first round of the 2026 draft, and he represents the long-term answer at the position whenever Stafford decides to walk away.
What the reps have looked like so far
Through camp, the split has largely followed Stafford’s schedule. On days he sits out to manage his workload, Bennett has taken the bulk of the first-team reps, with Simpson working mostly with the second unit and in individual drills. When Stafford has practiced, Bennett has slotted in as the backup while Simpson gets a smaller share.
Bennett’s edge right now comes down to experience inside a famously complex offense. He knows the system, the checks, the language in the huddle. Simpson has the physical tools and the pedigree, but he’s still translating an Alabama playbook into McVay’s terminology in real time. That gap tends to close with reps, which is exactly why the preseason games carry extra weight for both players.
Rams preseason schedule
| Week | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | at Kansas City Chiefs | Saturday, Aug. 15 |
| Week 2 | vs. New Orleans Saints | Saturday, Aug. 22 |
| Week 3 | at Los Angeles Chargers | Thursday, Aug. 27 |
With Stafford watching from the sideline in a baseball cap, as he has for most of camp, the Bennett-Simpson competition is set to play out over all three of those games. McVay has said he wants to evaluate it day by day rather than commit to a plan early, which means fans may not get real clarity on who’s ahead until the Rams take the field in Kansas City.
For now, it’s still Bennett’s job to lose. He’s had the bulk of the first-team snaps whenever Stafford has rested, and that trend has held for most of camp. But a rookie with Simpson’s draft capital doesn’t stay buried on the depth chart without the Rams making sure he’s earned every ounce of playing time he doesn’t get.
