Stetson Bennett’s return to football was a mixed bag last week as he threw four interceptions against the Cowboys while also leading the team on a game-winning touchdown drive.
Bennett, who was mostly absent from football during the 2023 season, was clearly dealing with a case of rust and I expect him to have a much better game against the Chargers.
In order for Bennett to be successful, he needs to play within the structure of the offense. Oftentimes last week, Bennett would see things too late and thus he’d attempt to fire the ball into tight windows. Those windows would lead to interceptions.
Sam Howell didn’t look overly impressive against the Chargers last week but was efficient enough to lead the Seahawks to two scoring drives including a 13-yard strike to Brady Russell.
If Bennett is able to cut down on his interceptions, lead the team on multiple scoring drives, and display his abilities to make off-schedule throws, he should put himself in the driver’s seat for a roster spot.
As Jimmy Garoppolo is suspended for the first two games of the regular season, Bennett needs to prove to the Rams why they won’t need to search for another QB.
If the Cowboys game was just a result of rust, Bennett should be primed for a breakout performance. Especially if he can link up with Jordan Whittington early and often. However it is unclear how many snaps Whittington will see today.
What is confirmed is that Bennett is set to play and will see a large portion if not all of the offensive snaps.