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- Rookie quarterback Ty Simpson delivers another efficient, turnover-free outing, leading three first-half scoring drives in a 20-18 preseason win over the Chargers.
- Stetson Bennett still appears positioned as Stafford’s primary backup, but coach Sean McVay isn’t committing to Bennett or Simpson as the backup, at least publicly.
- McVay says the Rams are still open to Aaron Donald returning, but the team is also staying focused on its preparations for the season.
Don’t read too much into it.
That’s what Rams coach Sean McVay said after rookie quarterback Ty Simpson played and Stetson Bennett did not in the Rams’ 20-18 victory over the Chargers on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.
McVay does not play starters or players expected to be significant backups or contributors during the preseason, especially in the final game.
Based on that, it appears Bennett’s on track to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Matthew Stafford when the Rams play the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia.
Or does it?
“I wouldn’t look too far into what that was,” McVay said of playing Simpson. “It was just continuing to get him experience.
“We’ve got three quarterbacks on our roster. Obviously, we’ve got the reigning MVP of the league and we’ve got two guys that we feel really good about. And if you say, ‘Hey, what does that really mean?’ That’s what it means, that we feel really good about those two guys.
The Rams trade second-year running back Jarquez Hunter to the Miami Dolphins to bring back speedy wide receiver Tutu Atwell.
“Not pigeonholing myself into any sort of decision other than I feel really good about Stetson Bennett, feel really good about Ty Simpson.”
Simpson, the 13th pick in the draft, completed 18 of 23 passes for 119 yards, including a second-quarter touchdown.
He faced Chargers starters during his first series, which ended with a punt.
“I was excited because it was my first time to where I was going against real guys in a real game,” Simpson said. “And it felt like I expected it to feel. Fast.”
It was Simpson’s second no-turnover performance. In the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Simpson played all but the first two series and completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
On Thursday, his most impressive play came early in the second quarter on third and seven from the Chargers’ 11-yard line. Simpson escaped pressure and rolled out to his left before firing a pass to diving receiver Brennan Presley for a touchdown.
Matthew Caldwell, an undrafted free agent from Texas, started the second half and played into the fourth quarter before suffering a knee injury. He completed five of 10 passes for 31 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown pass to running back Dean Connors.
Bennett, a fourth-year pro, took the vast majority of second-team snaps during training camp and preseason practices and took first-team reps on days Stafford was held out. Bennett played the first half against the New Orleans Saints and rushed for two touchdowns.
NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by Sunday.
“We’ve got some tough decisions over the next couple days,” McVay said.
Other noteworthy items following the Rams’ victory:
Tutu Atwell isn’t a Puka Nacua fill-in
Running back Jarquez Hunter did not play — and was not in the building — but not because he was assured a roster spot with the Rams.
On Thursday, the Rams traded Hunter, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, to the Miami Dolphins for receiver Tutu Atwell, who played five seasons for the Rams before signing with the Dolphins last March.
Atwell rejoins a receiver corps that includes Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and rookie CJ Daniels.
Nacua is the defendant in a civil lawsuit that alleges he made an antisemitic statement and bit a woman while riding in a vehicle. If the NFL determines that Nacua violated the league’s personal-conduct policy, he could be suspended.
Former Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson II announced his retirement on his 33rd birthday. In an Instagram video, he mentioned positives from every stop during his NFL career, including the Rams.
Did the Rams acquire Atwell as a preemptive move in case Nacua is suspended?
“No,” McVay said. “It had nothing to do with that. It was exclusively a guy we were really familiar with that you could really get at what we felt like was good for us and good for Jarquez.”
“Tutu’s an alumni,” Rams general manager Les Snead said during an in-game television interview. “He should come back. He’s someone who knows Sean’s offense. He can come in and play all three [receiver] positions.”
Connors, who played at Murrieta Valley High and Riverside City College before finishing his college career at Rice and Houston, rushed for 69 yards in 18 carries. Jordan Waters rushed for 53 yards in 15 carries.
Still waiting on Aaron Donald
McVay reiterated that the Rams will continue to move forward until Aaron Donald decides whether he will end a two-year retirement and rejoin the team.
“It’s really one of those deals that, what we’re doing is we’re focusing on this football team,” McVay said. “Aaron knows that, hey, if he wants to be able to do that, that’s something that we absolutely want to entertain and be able to figure out, and that’s really kind of all there is to it right now.”
In a television interview during the game, Snead said Donald, a three-time NFL defensive player of the year, still was going through his process.
“Obviously, the timeline’s getting a little closer to make a decision, but the timeline’s the timeline,” Snead said. “Time will tell.”
If Donald returns, he will join a front that includes two-time defensive player of the year Myles Garrett, acquired by the Rams in a blockbuster trade. Snead said in the interview that dealing for Garrett was not part of the Rams’ plan heading into the offseason.
“Never was Myles Garrett penciled into that intent,” Snead said, “and I’ll be honest with you: Never was Aaron Donald penciled into that intent. Sometimes luck goes your way, and we’re jacked to have Myles and we’re waiting on to see what happens with Aaron.”
Defensive standouts
Outside linebacker Darryl Peterson III had two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble in the final minute to preserve the victory.
Safety Nick Andersen recovered a fumble by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
Cornerback Cam Lampkin also had a sack.
Edge rusher Wesley Bailey, who made a big impression in the first two preseason games, started against the Chargers but played only two snaps and had one quarterback pressure.
Kicker wraps up perfect preseason
Harrison Mevis kicked two 27-yard field goals, making him six for six in three games.
Mevis kicked two field goals against the Chiefs and two against the Saints.
