Stetson Bennett, the Los Angeles Rams’ mystery man, returns to the team for 2024 OTAs.
When commenting on anything related to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, it is critical to first acknowledge the humanity of the issue. Bennett was absent from the squad for much of his first season due to a personal matter unrelated to his injuries. There has been significant conjecture regarding the extent of the issue, but no official announcement has been issued.
McVay set the tone early, stating, “Out of respect for him and the situation, I’m going to leave all of the specifics and particulars in-house,” shortly after the team placed Bennett on the reserve/non-football sickness list.
The Rams’ backup quarterback situation has been in upheaval since the organization parted ways with John Wolford and Bryce Perkins in advance of the 2023 season.
They traded up to take the former Georgia Bulldog in the 2023 selection, taking Bennett with the 128th pick. Several weeks later, the Rams signed Brett Rypien
Rypien took over as the team’s backup after Bennett went on leave. Rypien then replaced Matthew Stafford against the Green Bay Packers and was swiftly dismissed after a losing effort in favor quarterback Carson Wentz.
The position remains precarious at this stage in the offseason. Bennett is returning to battle with Jimmy Garoppolo, and the team has kept 2023 UDFA Dresser Winn. However, Garoppolo will be suspended for the first two weeks of the season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. Furthermore, Garoppolo isn’t a particularly durable quarterback. He has missed 30 games due to injuries over the previous six seasons.
Bennett will be the primary backup for the first two games, but Garoppolo will likely receive the start in the preseason because his suspension does not affect his eligibility for those games.
Bennett began the Rams’ 2023 preseason games like the other backups. In five games, he completed 58% of his throws, totaling 347 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He was benched for the third game after throwing two interceptions in nine attempts.
