INGLEWOOD — Ty Simpson has joked about his nagging curiosity a few times during training camp and into the preseason.
The Rams’ first-round pick described himself as somewhat of a pester Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, asking extensive questions to Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett IV about playing quarterback in the NFL – not to mention while learning the intricacies of coach Sean McVay’s notoriously extensive playbook, which he admits he’s still grasping.
“I say this all the time, Matthew and Stetson probably think I’m the annoying little kid, little brother because I ask them so many questions,” Simpson said Thursday night after he led the Rams to a 20-18 victory over the Chargers to complete an undefeated preseason slate. “But it really helps me a lot.”
Simpson has been in the rare position of a quarterback drafted in the first round who, four months later, is thrust into the background rather than the spotlight. When the Rams surprisingly selected him 13th overall in April’s NFL draft, it was under the clear reality that he wouldn’t get a sniff at starting quarterback – a role that’s comfortably Stafford’s until he elects to hang up his cleats and retire – but could secure backup quarterback duties to the league’s reigning MVP.
McVay, however, was still not willing to commit to a backup quarterback after Thursday’s game in which Simpson outdueled the Chargers. McVay noted that he “felt really good” about Bennett and Simpson. The pair of Rams signal callers will be on the 53-man roster, the Rams coach said earlier this week, as the NFL’s roster-cut deadline is at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Against the Chargers, Bennett watched from the sidelines as Simpson heralded the offense for the first half and part of the fourth quarter after undrafted quarterback Matthew Caldwell suffered an injury. The decision not to play Bennett, unlike the first two preseason games, McVay said, was something not to look too far into.
“Obviously, we got the reigning MVP of the league, and then we got two guys that we feel really good about,” McVay said. “And if you say, ‘What does that mean?’ (It means) that we feel really good about (Bennett and Simpson). I’m not pigeonholing myself into any sort of decision.”
Across three preseason games, with Simpson saying he was feeling more comfortable with increased repetitions, the former Alabama star showcased a quiet confidence, never really making a glaring error while marching downfield with the Rams’ backup unit. Simpson completed 18 of 23 passes across seven series Thursday for 119 yards and one passing touchdown, spending most of the first quarter against the Chargers’ starting defensive unit.
Simpson ended the preseason with 382 passing yards and a 47-of-60 (78.3%) completion percentage to go with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
“He didn’t have as many opportunities last week (against the New Orleans Saints),” McVay said. “Tonight, and obviously in Week One, (I’ve) been really pleased with Ty. He did a really good job, I thought he had good command. He’s got a great game-day demeanor. It was good to see him do his thing tonight.”
Simpson said on Tuesday and Wednesday he went over potential blitz coverages and third-down situations that the Chargers could game-plan against him with associate offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone.
In the second quarter, the preparation paid dividends. Despite what Simpson called a miscommunication with the offensive line on the pass protection, he retreated to the left and burst out of the pocket to swing out toward the sideline before finding wide receiver Brennan Presley for an off-balanced pass and an 11-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 10-7 lead.
“I think some of the fun things to see are the off schedule, you know, there was a pressure look, they lost contain on the pressure, he escaped it, kept his eyes down the field and Brennan Presley did a great job of being able to work off schedule with him,” McVay said.
Simpson said what was on his mind was just trying to avoid a negative play. Instead, his quick thinking turned out to become arguably his best play of the preseason. It’s that type of on-the-fly playmaking that made him the first-round pick for a franchise that didn’t have a clear need for another quarterback under Stafford, and could see him begin the season as second on the depth chart should McVay be swayed the rookie’s way.
When asked if McVay had told him whether he’d be backup quarterback or not, Simpson rejected the premise.
He said he doesn’t know and wouldn’t ask.
In fact, Simpson said, he doesn’t care whether it’s him or Bennett as the next man up.
“If I’m being honest, it doesn’t really matter because this is Matthew’s team and I’m behind him 100 percent,” Simpson said. “And I know Stetson is (too). There is nobody who is his biggest fan besides us two, and he has our support 100 percent and that’s all that really matters.”