Stetson Bennett was named the Rams’ temporary backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford before the team’s third preseason game, filling the spot of Jimmy Garoppolo while he served his two-game suspension. Well, Garoppolo has been reinstated and is back with the Rams, meaning Los Angeles has three quarterbacks to work with now.
The question is whether they want to keep all three on their 53-man roster.
There was no guarantee they’d keep Bennett as their third quarterback but given the rash of injuries they’ve suffered, it’s now easier for the Rams to keep all three passers.
As of now, the Rams have 51 players on the active roster, meaning they have two available spots. Once Garoppolo and Alaric Jackson are activated, they’ll bring the total up to the maximum of 53 players.
They’ll need at least a few spots to help fill out the depth chart on the offensive line, at wide receiver and potentially in the secondary after losing Cooper Kupp, Jonah Jackson and John Johnson III in Sunday’s loss. If the Rams place all three on IR as Sean McVay indicated they could, there would be three available roster spots.
Should be no problem keeping Bennett as the QB3, right?
Had Kupp, Jackson, Johnson, Puka Nacua, Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom not gotten hurt, it wouldn’t have been as simple. That would’ve been six extra players on the 53-man roster that the Rams may not have now. Who would they have cut to make room for Alaric Jackson and Garoppolo when they returned from suspension?
Bennett very easily could’ve been on the chopping block. It’s not typical of the Rams to carry three quarterbacks in the first place, and though Bennett has the pedigree of a former fourth-round pick, he hasn’t exactly shined in Los Angeles. He missed the entire 2023 season for personal reasons as he stepped away from football and this preseason, he threw five interceptions in just two games, tied with Trey Lance for the most in the league.
He didn’t do himself any favors with his play this summer, to the point where McVay said multiple times that the Rams needed to see more from him before deciding whether he could be Stafford’s backup for two weeks.
His job seems safe for now but he may not have been as fortunate if not for the rash of injuries that has decimated the Rams’ roster.
There is one thing worth noting: McVay said on Monday that he thought about putting Bennett in late against the Cardinals but he “didn’t want to put Stetson in a situation where he has never taken some of the snaps and exchanges.”
It sure sounds like he didn’t fully trust Bennett to cleanly take snaps and execute handoffs on the Rams’ final drive, so he decided to leave Stafford in. It’s odd, but that comment doesn’t exude confidence from McVay.
Bennett’s spot shouldn’t be in any danger but once the Rams start getting their stars back from IR down the stretch, they could have a decision to make at QB.