Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay will keep veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford sidelined for the preseason, opting instead to give rookie Ty Simpson extended playing time. Stafford, the team's Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is considered too vital to risk in exhibition games, especially with the Rams opening their season in Australia on September 10 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Simpson, the 13th overall pick in the recent NFL draft, is expected to receive the majority of snaps during the preseason, including Saturday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Stetson Bennett will also see opportunities, but the Rams view Simpson as the long-term successor to Stafford. Spending the 13th pick on Simpson indicated the team was building a succession plan rather than drafting an immediate backup.
The Rams aim to maximize Stafford's remaining productive seasons while allowing Simpson to develop. The hope is that Stafford can continue to lead the team's Super Bowl aspirations for another year or two, providing a smooth transition when he eventually retires. Simpson's readiness will be critical in determining whether the Rams' championship window can extend into a new era.
Preseason games offer a unique opportunity for Simpson to gain experience and demonstrate his progress. Once the regular season begins, valuable practice repetitions and game snaps will shift back to Stafford. For Simpson, these exhibition games serve as a crucial testing ground to apply what he has learned and to perform against live competition. His performance, including decision-making under pressure and how he responds to mistakes, will be closely scrutinized.
However, McVay's preseason offensive playcalling is typically conservative, and the Rams will likely field many players competing for the bottom of the roster. Therefore, evaluations of Simpson should be made with the understanding that he will not be operating the full offensive scheme or surrounded by the team's primary starters. The focus will be on assessing his development trajectory rather than expecting him to prove he is ready to replace Stafford immediately. The goal is to gather evidence of his progress toward becoming the team's future starting quarterback, ensuring the Rams can remain competitive after Stafford's departure.