It had been 226 days since quarterback Ty Simpson played football, but on Saturday, Simpson made an impressive preseason debut with the Los Angeles Rams.
Simpson entered the game at the 7:03 mark in the 2nd quarter. On his first snap, he completed a 23-yard pass to tight end Mark Redman. After a few short-range passes, Simpson settled in and began pushing the ball downfield.
Simpson’s confidence led to a show of razor-sharp precision and great ball placement. His poise and command helped him lead the Rams on a couple of fourth-quarter scoring drives, and he consistently found open men, hitting them with accurate passes to create plays.
“He took what the defense gave him. I thought he read the plays out, read with his feet; he did a really good job overall,” said head coach Sean McVay in a postgame interview.
Simpson connected with running back Dean Connors for two touchdowns during the contest. He delivered the first on a short screen, and the second was placed into a tight window.
Simpson had no turnovers on the day and avoided sacks, a testament to his solid athleticism and mobility he displayed during his time at Alabama. He managed to throw well while on the run and was able to escape pressure throughout the contest.
After a solid preseason debut, his play should foster belief within the Rams organization. Without a doubt, Simpson will continue to develop behind Matthew Stafford, but his performance could make him a potential backup to Stafford.
“I’m not looking for perfection; I’m looking for progress,” said Simpson in a postgame interview. If Simpson keeps progressing at a great rate and maintains a good showing throughout the preseason, he could jump Stetson Bennett, who currently serves as the backup to Stafford.
Simpson’s Stats:
- C/ATT: 21/25 (84%)
- Passing yards: 190
- Passing touchdowns: 2
- Interceptions: 0
- Rushing yards: 0
- Sacks: 0
Simpson’s performance reached a significant milestone in his early NFL career; his 190 passing yards and two touchdowns marked the first time a rookie achieved such stats in a preseason debut since Baker Mayfield in 2018.
