Sean McVay's Answer at Backup QB: Both of Them

Aug 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett IV (13) throws the ball against the New Orleans Saints in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Sean McVay's Answer at Backup QB: Both of Them

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Parrish Jr. | Last updated Sep 5, 2026 10:43 AM ET

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When NFL teams enter the season with three quarterbacks, it usually breaks down into a clear-cut starter, a primary backup who can step in after an injury or benching, and an emergency option who sees the field if the first two can’t go.

The Los Angeles Rams enter 2026 with that same setup, with a twist. Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP, is the starter, while Stetson Bennett, a four-year veteran, and rookie Ty Simpson round out the group. The difference is the Rams have two players sharing the No. 2 job, according to head coach Sean McVay, rather than a settled pecking order behind Stafford.

There is a depth chart. Ahead of next week’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, Bennett is listed second and Simpson third. McVay has stopped short of making that official.

Sean McVay calls his backup QB duo 2A and 2B

Aug 30, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) at practice at the Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

“I’ll tell you when I decide who is going to be the actual two in the game,” McVay said. “I’ve talked to the players about it, but that’s something that they’re both going to continue to train regardless of who it ends up being up and who is the emergency third. I look at it as both of those guys are going to play, but you saw, we listed Stetson as the two, Ty as the three. But I look at it as the two A, two B and we’ll see how we approach the game.”

That approach departs from the past several years, when the order was clear: Stafford, then Jimmy Garoppolo, then Bennett, who took the scout-team reps as the last man on the chart. This time, McVay is choosing not to rank his backups, saying he’d rather keep both sharpening their games.

That’s why McVay isn’t ready to commit to Week 1 as permanent. Whoever gets the nod for the opener won’t necessarily hold that spot for the rest of the season.

Week 1 isn’t set in stone

Aug 20, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay during a joint practice against the New Orleans Saints at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

“We feel good about both of those guys,” McVay said. “Somebody has to be the backup on game day. Somebody has to be the emergency third. We’ll see which direction. I’ve talked to those guys about it and I don’t want to necessarily say that whatever we do in Week 1 is how it stays throughout the year, but our job is to develop both of those guys. Like I’ve told you, I feel really good about both of them.”

That competition played out all preseason, with Bennett and Simpson each making a strong push. Bennett brings experience, having learned McVay’s offense since being drafted in the fourth round in 2023, while Simpson has shown the same accuracy, decision-making and mobility that made him the No. 13 pick this year.

McVay isn’t tipping his hand. We’ll see what he decides.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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