Rams Hold Off Naming Week-1 Backup QB After Preseason Finale

On August 27, the Los Angeles Rams concluded their preseason with a 20-18 victory over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The game featured rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson starting the first half, after which undrafted rookie Matthew Caldwell took over in the third quarter. Neither starter Matthew Stafford nor fellow rookie Stetson Bennett IV appeared. Head coach Sean McVay left the decision over the No. 2 quarterback spot—whether Bennett IV or Simpson—unresolved, indicating a final determination will be made before the regular-season opener in Australia.

HeavyNew York Post5 Takeaways from Rams' 20-18 preseason Week 3 win over Chargers: QB usage, Harrison Mevis' perfect preseason, and more NBC SportsNo decision yet on whether Stetson Bennett IV or Ty Simpson will be backup quarterback for Week 1 after Thursday night's preseason finale against Chargers Ty Simpson decisive, composed and accurate in Rams' preseason finale win over Chargers

Los Angeles entered the finale with a three-quarterback depth chart: reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, and two recently drafted rookies, Stetson Bennett IV (a transfer from Georgia) and Ty Simpson (Alabama). Both have received positive evaluations during training camp, and the Rams have used the preseason to give each a limited amount of game experience. An additional rookie, Matthew Caldwell, saw brief action after replacing Simpson in the second half but suffered a knee injury that may affect his roster status.

Heavy5 Takeaways from Rams' 20-18 preseason Week 3 win over Chargers: QB usage, Harrison Mevis' perfect preseason, and more New York PostNBC SportsNo decision yet on whether Stetson Bennett IV or Ty Simpson will be backup quarterback for Week 1 after Thursday night's preseason finale against Chargers Ty Simpson decisive, composed and accurate in Rams' preseason finale win over Chargers

• Ty Simpson: 47-of-60 passing for 382 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions across three preseason games; 18-of-23 for 119 yards and 1 TD in the first half of the finale.

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• Matthew Caldwell: 5-for-10 for 31 yards and 1 touchdown before exiting with a knee injury.

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• Game result: Rams 20, Chargers 18.

5 Takeaways from Rams' 20-18 preseason Week 3 win over Chargers: QB usage, Harrison Mevis' perfect preseason, and more

• Roster deadline: Teams must cut to 53 players by August 30.

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Regarding the injury, McVay said Caldwell is dealing with a knee issue and that the Rams have “three quarterbacks on our roster,” underscoring the depth at the position. He added that a decision on the Week-1 backup will be reached “in the near future” as the team prepares for its season-opening game in Melbourne, Australia.

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• “Obviously, we’ve got the reigning MVP of the league, and then we got two guys that we feel really good about,” — Sean McVay, head coach

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• “We’ve got three quarterbacks on our roster,” — Sean McVay, head coach

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• “You've really seen a lot of really good things from him in each of these last three games,” — Sean McVay, head coach

Ty Simpson decisive, composed and accurate in Rams' preseason finale win over Chargers

• “I knew their starters were going to play at least the first series. My dad told me that,” — Ty Simpson

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• “I don’t really ask him that,” — Ty Simpson

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• “Pressure makes diamonds or busts pipes,” — Ty Simpson

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The Rams are expected to announce the Week-1 backup quarterback before traveling to Australia for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in two weeks. Additionally, Matthew Caldwell’s roster status will be finalized no later than August 30, the league-wide deadline for trimming rosters to 53 players.

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