“We don’t have a backup QB,” Rams coach Sean McVay raises concerns over Stetson Bennett’s 2024 status

Stetson Bennett was drafted by the Rams as a successor to Matthew Stafford in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

“We don’t have a backup QB,” Rams coach Sean McVay raises concerns over Stetson Bennett’s 2024 status

Stetson Bennett and Sean McVay (Via Imago)

When the other teams are arming up in full swing for the 2024 NFL season, the Los Angeles Rams may not even have a backup quarterback– putting in a major crisis if starting gets hurt. 

This Thursday, Rams head coach Sean McVay shed light on the Stetson Bennett situation, who was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list in his rookie year and hasn’t returned since. He was drafted by the franchise as a successor to Matthew Stafford in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

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The Rams plan to handle the ropes to Bennett after the retirement (future) of quarterback Stafford. However, he couldn’t even make it to the regular season, as it is believed after playing in Rams preseason games, he was mysteriously put on the list ahead of the regular season. 

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In a conversation with Los Angeles Times writer Gary Klein, McVay said, 

I think the first thing is you connect with him, which we’ll do that at the appropriate time, and you figure out, where are you at and is this something that we feel like is best for him and for our football team to bring him back into this ecosystem?

He explained that’s their initial plan, and until they get a better idea of their next action, they wouldn’t get the clarity for the 2024 season. Mentioning the name of Stafford, it’s clear the Rams are going another season with him as a starter, but for now, they don’t have a backup quarterback on the roster. McVay added:

We don’t have a backup quarterback that’s on this roster. But we’ll see what that looks like in terms of how that affects Stetson and the draft or free agency. 

Stetson Bennett’s status with the Rams remains unclear 

It wasn’t too long ago when the Rams HC stated uncertainties surrounding the return of the two-time College Football Playoff National Champion into the Rams for the 2024 season. 

Sean McVay with Stetson Bennett
Sean McVay with Stetson Bennett (Via Imago)

When he was placed on the non-football injury/illness list, the franchise had to turn to veteran Carson Wentz as the backup quarterback for Stafford. Wentz came into action when Stafford suffered a sprained UCL in his thumb and had to sit out the Week 9 game. 

When asked coach McVay the reason for removing Bennett from the active roster, he simply described it as something “bigger than football,” though no other details were shared by the team.

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