NFL Preseason Blitz: Rams rookie QB Ty Simpson plays well again, but seems well behind Stetson Bennett IV

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 safety Quan Martin. The Commanders put a lot of resources into fixing the defense over the offseason and even though Saturday's performance came against quarterback Joshua Dobbs and most of the Lions' second team, it was a positive outing.

Atlanta Falcons 34, Indianapolis Colts 6: Neither team played starters. Riley Leonard got the start for the Colts at quarterback and struggled. He went 7 of 14 for 62 yards. Anthony Richardson Sr. came in after and wasn't impressive either, He went 3 of 9 for 24 yards, a step back from a solid outing in the Colts' first preseason game.

Buffalo Bills 31, Cleveland Browns 7: The big headline out of the game was the quarterback battle between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson (and Watson's comments after the game about Browns fans booing him). Sanders started and played well aside from an interception. Watson threw an interception as well. The Bills didn't play starters. Safety Damar Hamlin made a play, with the interception off Sanders. He did Sanders' watch celebration afterward.

Damar Hamlin had to throw up the watch

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Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals: The Bears used their starters for one drive. Their lone drive was progressing well before Caleb Williams misfired on three straight passes. That isn't a big deal, though Williams' completion percentage and whether he can improve it is a big factor for Chicago this season. The Bengals used their starters last week, but not in their second preseason game. Josh Johnson, the well traveled 40-year-old quarterback, got the start for the Bengals.

Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots: Neither team played starters. Andy Dalton got the start for the Eagles at quarterback over Tanner McKee, a preseason star last year. Dalton has been the second-team quarterback according to camp reports.

Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Chiefs gave their starters, including tight end Travis Kelce and running back Kenneth Walker III, some playing time but Patrick Mahomes was not one of them. Justin Fields started as Mahomes continues to come back from a torn ACL.

Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals: Brian Schottenheimer said before training camp that he didn't anticipate many starters getting playing time in the preseason. The Cardinals did play starters last week (they saw prized rookie running back Jeremiyah Love suffer a high ankle sprain), and coach Mike LaFleur said he would play some starters but rest quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Final thoughts

Jameis Winston got the start for the Giants with Jaxson Dart and the starters sitting. On his first drive he completed 3-of-4 passes for 47 yards and ran in an 11-yard touchdown. Winston finished 15 of 21 for 150 yards, and showed again why he's one of the NFL's top backups.

Jameis takes it himself for SIX!

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Lions cornerback D.J. Reed decided to do a backflip to celebrate a nice tackle. The problem? He didn't stick the landing.

make a play, do a flip

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Ja'Mori Maclin made a nice play on a 71-yard touchdown for the Bills. He is the cousin of Jeremy Maclin, a former first-round pick who played eight NFL seasons at receiver. Maclin was an undrafted free agent this year.

Shane Buechele finds Ja'Mori Maclin and he takes it 71 YARDS

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Years ago, the thought of Odell Beckham Jr. playing in a Giants preseason game with backups would have been preposterous. Now Beckham is 33 years old and trying to make the Giants' roster. Beckham made a 12-yard catch with some nifty moves afterward in the second quarter against the Dolphins. In New York's first preseason game he had two catches but for only 6 yards.

.@obj had him flyin' by pic.twitter.com/NK6vCLT2Q9

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The Saints didn't play starters against the Rams, which meant Zach Wilson got a shot to start at quarterback. The second pick of the 2021 NFL Draft is on his fourth roster since the start of 2024. Wilson has been the third quarterback behind Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler. He didn't help his case to move up the depth chart with an interception early in the second quarter.

Al'zillion Hamilton with the interception for the @RamsNFL

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However, Rattler didn't help his case either. Coming in after Wilson, Rattler threw a 100-yard pick 6 into heavy coverage near the goal line.

Bucky Irving got the start at running back for the Buccaneers, but Kenneth Gainwell was in the game early on. Irving got the first three carries and Gainwell got the fourth, all on the first drive of the game. Gainwell started the second series of the game. It could be a full-blown committee in Tampa Bay.