Ty Simpson to Play but Will Not Start in Rams Preseason Opener

The Los Angeles Rams have set an early pecking order for their preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, and that clarity matters for roster planning and the rookie evaluation cycle.

Head coach Sean McVay said Stetson Bennett will start while Ty Simpson — the team’s 2026 first-round pick — will suit up and receive live reps but will not open the game, and Matthew Stafford will not play; the original reporting is available Heavy – Los Angeles Rams.

Key Takeaways

• Sean McVay confirmed Stetson Bennett will start the Rams’ preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Ty Simpson will take the field during the preseason game but will not be the starter for that contest.
• Matthew Stafford will not suit up for the Rams in the preseason opener.
• The Rams’ first preseason contest is scheduled against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ty Simpson’s preseason role

Ty Simpson’s place on the gameday roster for the preseason opener gives the Rams a chance to evaluate their 2026 first-round pick in controlled live action.

The plan announced by McVay explicitly limits Simpson’s exposure as a starter while still providing in-game reps that are valuable for both teaching rhythm and assessing processing under pressure.

For a rookie quarterback taken in Round 1, receiving snaps without bearing the initial start allows coaches to test situational reads and footwork against an opponent the staff will scout like a regular-season team.

Rams quarterback pecking order

McVay’s decision to start Bennett over Simpson for the preseason opener reflects a short-term priority to protect the veteran presence and manage the rookie’s ramp-up.

With Matthew Stafford sitting out the contest, the Rams are structuring reps so Bennett assumes the primary starter’s workload while Simpson accumulates targeted live reps behind him.

From a roster-construction perspective, this sequencing keeps the evaluation window intact where Bennett can demonstrate starter readiness and Simpson can be assessed without full starter responsibilities.

What coaches can evaluate in preseason reps

Coaches will use Simpson’s snaps to examine quick decision-making, progressions, and how he handles the play-calling tempo in real time.

Those reps also let positional coaches evaluate the offensive line and skill-group chemistry when a rookie quarterback is on the field, information that helps shape Week 1 depth and practice plans.

What playing time means for Ty Simpson

Live preseason reps are a measured development tool for a rookie quarterback drafted in Round 1; the goal is targeted growth rather than exhaustive exposure.

McVay’s plan implies the Rams want Simpson tested in game-speed scenarios while still protecting him from a full game’s workload and the heightened stakes of a starter’s role.

That balance helps the staff isolate developmental objectives such as accuracy on intermediate throws and progressions under pressure while keeping the broader depth chart stable for the regular season.

Draft pick and preseason role comparison

SEC recruiting and 2026 draft implications

The Rams’ handling of a rookie first-round quarterback like Ty Simpson ties into how NFL teams manage top collegiate talent during transition windows, which in turn affects the evaluation calculus for future draft classes.

Opting to grant Simpson game reps without starting him signals a developmental pathway that other clubs weighing first-round quarterback investments may mirror when balancing immediate depth versus long-term upside.

That approach also informs college-to-pro narratives recruiters and programs highlight for prospects who aim to enter the draft, and it factors indirectly into how NIL conversations and roster construction planning unfold around high-end quarterback prospects.

Reporting and the initial statuses cited here were first made public in the original article linked earlier.