RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Quarterbacks drafted in the top half of the NFL Draft's first round aren't often third stringers to start the regular season.
One of the big stories of last week's preseason games was the play of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson, the 13th pick of the NFL Draft. He went 21 of 25 for 190 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs in his first preseason action.
Still, it seems like Simpson won't even be Matthew Stafford's primary backup to start the season. Saturday's game between the Rams and New Orleans Saints probably solidified that Simpson will be third on the depth chart to start the season. The Rams looked good, cruising to a 34-0 win over the Saints, and current No. 2 quarterback Stetson Bennett IV was a big reason.
Bennett got the start for the Rams, as he did last week ahead of Simpson. The Rams are looking for a new backup to Stafford, with last season's backup Jimmy Garoppolo still a free agent. The Rams didn't hand Simpson the backup job. Reports from camp have said Bennett has been clearly ahead.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Saints. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman) AP Photo/Caroline Brehman
Bennett probably increased his lead on Saturday. Bennett played very well in the first half. He ran for two touchdowns to help give the Rams a 17-0 lead. He had been safe and efficient as a passer for most of the first half, taking what the defense gave him, but then opened it up in the two-minute drill. Bennett hit passes of 11, 20, 17, 11 and 9 yards to get the Rams inside the 10-yard line. The Rams settled for a field goal on the last play of the half. Bennett compled 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards. Bennett did enough on Saturday to give the Rams confidence he can be the backup to start the season.
Simpson then got his chance, though a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown by the Rams helped keep the offense off the field for most of the third quarter. That limited Simpson's attempts. Simpson looked good again though, once again showing a good understanding of where to go with the ball and getting it out fast. He went 8 of 12 for 73 yards. There weren't many big highlights from his performance but the Rams should be pleased by it.
The Rams have Super Bowl hopes this season, and Simpson was a pick for the future. Usually first-round quarterbacks play right away or get a shot sometime during the season. Most teams taking a quarterback don't have the reigning NFL MVP, as the Rams have with Stafford. It's good that Simpson is getting some playing time in August, because this might be a redshirt season for him.
Spotlight team: Miami Dolphins
The preseason usually doesn't indicate how good a team will be. Both 0-16 teams in NFL history, the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns, were 4-0 in the preseason. But Dolphins fans looking for some reason to believe their team might not be as bad as expected this season haven't gotten many great signs in the preseason.
The Dolphins were blown out 26-3 by the Giants on Saturday. Last week they lost 20-7 to the Commanders. It doesn't mean that much because the Dolphins didn't even play their starters in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants. But 10 points in two preseason games isn't great.
Miami scored a touchdown on its first drive of the preseason — that's a good sign considering that was with the starters playing — but have gone 19 possessions since then without getting in the end zone. The Dolphins had just 102 yards and three first downs against the Giants. They were playing third-string quarterback Cam Miller and fourth-stringer Mark Gronowski on Saturday and few players who will see any key role in Week 1 saw the field. There isn’t that much to take from the start to the preseason. Still, it probably isn’t what new coach Jeff Hafley wanted.
Standout player: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
J.J. McCarthy got the start for the Vikings, and his final numbers were OK outside of the completion percentage: 5 of 10 for 81 yards. But one pass summed up why Kyler Murray was named the starting quarterback before the preseason started.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, McCarthy had Myles Price wide open in the end zone. There was no Ravens defender anywhere near Pryce and McCarthy wasn't under pressure. But McCarthy didn't throw with any touch and sailed it over Pryce's head for an incompletion. It was a bad miss from a quarterback who needs some good reps.
It wasn't all bad for McCarthy. On the first drive he made a strong throw on third-and-7 for 8 yards to pick up the first down. On his second drive he bought time and launched a pass downfield, where Tai Felton came down with a jump ball for 50 yards. But later in the drive, with a lot of time in the pocket, McCarthy threw too high and incomplete on a pass to the back of the end zone, then missed the play to Price. The Vikings had two three-and-out drives with McCarthy in at quarterback after that, then Carson Wentz took over. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said McCarthy was "a little hobbled" and that's a reason he came out, though McCarthy "seemed to be fine" afterward. The Ravens went on to win 13-3.
McCarthy's future with Minnesota is murky after the 2024 10th overall pick of the draft was passed over for Murray. There's still a chance Carson Wentz could win the No. 2 job over McCarthy. Some of McCarthy's misses on Saturday won't have the team reevaluating their decision.
Other games
Detroit Lions 17, Washington Commanders 13: Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels started, but didn't play long. He had one incompletion and took one sack, and Washington went three-and-out on his only series. The Commanders defense, using mostly starters against Detroit's backups, looked good. They got a touchdown on a strip sack from cornerback Amik Robertson and then an interception from s...
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