Rams QB Simpson shines in 2-TD preseason debut — SkimNews
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- Ty Simpson, the 13th pick and second quarterback selected in this year's draft, completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions over the final three quarters of the Rams' 20-12 win over the Chiefs.
- Sean McVay said Simpson showed "good command," took what the defense gave him, read with his feet and kept the ball in play.
- Dean Connors caught both of Simpson's touchdown passes, while Simpson completed passes to seven players in his debut.
- ESPN Research identified Simpson as the first player since Baker Mayfield with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 to post 190 passing yards and two touchdown passes in a preseason debut.
- Stetson Bennett IV started the game and completed 4 of 6 passes for 38 yards over two drives while competing to back up Matthew Stafford.
- Ty Simpson received limited training-camp reps, especially on days Stafford practiced, and got extended playing time partly because McVay does not play starters or key backups during the preseason.
- Ty Simpson said he was unsure what to expect before his first NFL game but felt "just like playing in the backyard" after the opening drive.
Why it matters: Simpson gained an unusually strong early benchmark in the Rams' backup competition, posting 190 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Bennett started and threw for 38 yards, while McVay's approach of not playing starters or key backups gave Simpson the final three quarters rather than a standard starter workload.
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