The Rams originally drafted Stetson Bennett with the intention of having him serve as Matthew Stafford’s backup for the current season and potentially grooming him as Stafford’s successor in the future. However, unexpected developments emerged on Wednesday.
Coach Sean McVay announced that Bennett had been placed on the non-football injury list but did not provide specific details, respecting Bennett’s privacy in the matter. The Rams are currently preparing for their upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Bennett, who was inactive for the opening game against Seattle due to a listed shoulder injury, will now miss four games and become eligible for return in Week 6 when the Rams face the Arizona Cardinals. McVay clarified that Bennett’s placement on the non-football injury list is unrelated to his shoulder issue.
As a result of these developments, Brett Rypien has been elevated to the roster and will continue to serve as the backup quarterback alongside Stafford. Rypien is now the sole backup quarterback on both the active roster and practice squad.
Prior to joining the Rams, Bennett achieved back-to-back national titles with Georgia and was selected by the Rams in the fourth round of last spring’s draft. This selection marked the Rams’ first quarterback draft choice since 2016 when they picked Jared Goff as the No. 1 overall selection.
Rams scouts had thoroughly evaluated Bennett and found him to be forthcoming in responding to questions about a January incident in Texas where he was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication.
During the preseason, Bennett exhibited promise in games against the Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, but he faced challenges in the final preseason game against the Denver Broncos.
When asked about the impact of Bennett’s current situation on the Rams as an organization, McVay emphasized that there are more significant issues to consider.
Matthew Stafford expressed his appreciation and affection for Bennett, stating that he has “a lot of love” for him. Stafford and Rypien are prepared to handle the quarterback responsibilities moving forward.
Rypien, while acknowledging the unfortunate circumstances, expressed his readiness to step up and take on additional responsibilities, wishing the best for Stetson Bennett in his recovery or any other challenges he may be facing.
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