Whereas Matthew Stafford was and stays entrenched because the Los Angeles Rams’ beginning quarterback, the crew final yr used a fourth-round draft choose on two-time Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide championship-winning quarterback Stetson Bennett.
The previous Georgia Bulldogs star was anticipated to be Stafford’s backup throughout his rookie season and the foreseeable future. However Bennett was lacking in motion throughout nearly all of his rookie marketing campaign, leaving observers with extra questions than solutions.
He sat out of the season opener with a shoulder damage. Just a few days later, he landed on the non-football damage record. On the time, the Rams have been tight-lipped in regards to the choice to vary Bennett’s roster standing.
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Quarterback Stetson Bennett of the Los Angeles Rams warms up earlier than a preseason sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos at Empower Subject at Mile Excessive Aug. 26, 2023, in Denver, Colo. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Photos)
“There are specific issues that I believe are slightly bit greater and extra necessary, and out of respect for the particulars and the specifics, [I] need to have the ability to maintain it in-house,” Rams coach Sean McVay in September when requested about Bennett.
Bennett is now again with the crew, and he seems to be on the trail to competing for the backup function. The Rams signed veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo in March, however he’ll miss the primary two video games of the season. The 32-year-old was suspended for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug coverage.
This week, Rams normal supervisor Les Snead lastly supplied some perception into what transpired with the quarterback final season. Snead urged Bennett was burned out after back-to-back school soccer titles.
Stetson Bennett of the Los Angeles Rams warms up previous to a preseason sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium Aug. 19, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photos)
“I do know this: Final yr was very useful for him. I believe he took benefit of that yr away from the sport,” Snead instructed Alabama’s Information 19.
“You understand what, he is an exhausted human being primarily based on all the things he had achieved to stroll on, to go to (junior school), to return again, to show down small faculties, say ‘I’ll strive to do that Georgia factor.’ To win a job, then to win the factor, after which to find out, ‘I’ll come again.’ And while you come again, it is actually win it once more, otherwise you failed. And that does take a toll on a human being. So, I used to be jacked for Stetson to have the ability to take that second and breathe slightly bit.”
Snead mentioned the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl appearances in 2018 and 2021 helped everybody within the franchise understand the psychological and bodily pressure of competing at a championship degree.
“We had gone via it the yr earlier than the place we had gained a Tremendous Bowl, and it actually began once we misplaced our first one. However we have been an exhausted constructing, so there was a component of understanding the toll it takes … to do your half,” Snead mentioned.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett of Georgia speaks to the media throughout the NFL Mix at Lucas Oil Stadium March 3, 2023, in Indianapolis. (Michael Hickey/Getty Photos)
Snead mentioned the crew was supportive of Bennett’s choice to take a step again.
“The accountability of the QB, and for our sake, we noticed what taking a break, giving some guys a break from the sport to get refreshed. I name it to get bored and fall again in love with the sport you grew up taking part in within the yard,” Snead mentioned.
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Bennett was on the Rams’ coaching complicated final month for the beginning of the crew’s offseason program. He was additionally current for apply this week. McVay was complimentary of the second-year quarterback.
“He is achieved an incredible job,” McVay mentioned Tuesday. “He is acquired a superb look in his eye. I actually recognize the way in which that he is come to work. He is been actually attentive within the conferences. I believe [quarterbacks coach] Dave Ragone has achieved an incredible job with the quarterbacks as an entire. His command, his skill to speak, and Stetson’s had a pair good days. And it has been good having him out right here.”
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