Rams keep No. 2 quarterback race open after preseason finale, Sean McVay says decision is not about who played Thursday

The Los Angeles Rams closed their preseason schedule with a quarterback storyline that did not produce a clear hierarchy behind starter Matthew Stafford. Ty Simpson earned the start at quarterback in Thursday night’s game, while Stetson Bennett did not play. After the contest, Rams head coach Sean McVay made a point of separating the lineup from the eventual No. 2 quarterback decision.

McVay said the choice was made as part of a process to “continue to get [Simpson] experience” heading into the rookie season. In other words, the Rams were not using the preseason finale as a final audition that would automatically determine who would hold the primary backup role on opening week.

That stance matters because NFL training camps often culminate in a visible hierarchy at quarterback, especially for teams searching for stability behind their starter. The Rams have carried a clear starter in Stafford, but the backup role is where preparation meets uncertainty: the deeper the team’s developmental plan goes, the more the coaching staff must balance reps, game experience, and readiness if the starter is unavailable.

The decision to keep the No. 2 job unsettled also implies the Rams view their quarterback competition as more than a single game snapshot. McVay’s comments suggest the organization sees multiple steps in the preparation timeline, with the preseason acting as one chapter rather than the last word. Bennett’s absence from the game, therefore, did not get framed as a verdict on his standing, and Simpson’s start did not get framed as a promotion by itself.

For fans, the most immediate takeaway is that McVay and the Rams coaching staff intend to continue evaluating, even after a night that placed Simpson in the center of the offense and left Bennett watching from the sideline. The preseason finale can still be informative for scheme fit and timing, but McVay’s explanation makes clear the staff is not interpreting it as a definitive tiebreaker between the two players.

Looking ahead, what to watch is how Los Angeles structures the quarterback plan when preparations shift from preseason execution to regular-season roles. If the Rams keep splitting responsibilities in early practice and game-week situations, it will align with McVay’s messaging that the No. 2 quarterback decision is separate from who got the start in this final exhibition. If one of the two begins to receive a more consistent leadership role in second-team reps, that would indicate the staff’s internal timeline is reaching a conclusion. Either way, McVay has indicated the Rams will not rush a public answer, even after a preseason finale that seemed, at first glance, to invite one.