Rams News: McVay Confirms Stetson Bennett as Backup for Stafford Amid Garoppolo's Suspension

Stetson Bennett has been named the primary backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams during Jimmy Garoppolo's two-game suspension.

Garoppolo is sidelined for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy , and instead of bringing in a veteran, the Rams are putting their trust in Bennett.

"He did a good job," McVay said, per Stu Jackson of TheRams.com. "I think he got a body of work in terms of both of those games going from wire to wire. I think he's done really well in some of the practice settings.

"And when you do look at it, you're obviously very fortunate to have Jimmy that will be coming back on Week 3, but he's done enough that we feel good about him for those first couple weeks."

Bennett, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had a challenging rookie season after being placed on the reserve/non-football illness list.

He returned for the 2024 preseason, where he completed 41 of 69 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw five interceptions, including four in a single game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Matthew Stafford's health is a concern, as he dealt with hamstring tightness during training camp, making Bennett's role even more critical.

McVay choosing to not seek a more established interim backup shows a vote of confidence in Bennett and that the team is focusing on the potential he has flashed instead of the mistakes he has made.

The Rams are set to kick off their 2024 season on September 8 against the Detroit Lions, with Garoppolo eligible to return on September 22 against the San Francisco 49ers.