general
49ers release first official depth chart
The San Francisco 49ers have released their first official depth chart of the season. While there may not be any major surprises, there are some changes to note
Jimmy Garoppolo
QB · FA · 34 yrs · exp 12 · Eastern Illinois
Status
- Game status
- Active
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
general
Winners and losers of NFL roster cuts: Who's bluffing on QBs?
NFL teams made a flurry of moves to set their 53-man rosters, and they still might not be done
general
Fernando Mendoza finishes preseason with 2nd interception in Las Vegas Raiders-San Francisco 49ers matchup
Winners and losers from the preseason finale
general
Ty Simpson will "definitely" play preseason finale, Sean McVay undecided on backup QB
The Rams have the reigning MVP at starting quarterback, but their QB2 is still to be determined. Head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that he’s still undecided as to who will be Matthew Stafford’s backup between Stetson Bennett and first-round rookie Ty Simpson. When gathering data to help make that determination, McVay said the Rams will “definitely” play Simpson in this week’s preseason finale against the Chargers while Bennett may or may not get on the field. “I’m just truly taking things a day at a time ,” McVay said, via Benjamin Royer of the Southern California News Group. “Today, Stetson took nine of the 15 reps [with the second team]. Ty took six of them. As far as what we’re doing with the game, you know we haven’t even gotten into that.” Bennett is entering his fourth season but has not been in a regular-season game. Jimmy Garoppolo has served as Los Angeles’ backup quarterback for the last two seasons, but he has not been back with the club in 2026 as he contemplates retirement. Bennett was 19-of-31 for 181 yards with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the Rams’ preseason matchup with the Saints on Saturday. Simpson finished that contest 8-of-12 for 73 yards. The Rams will be the “away” team when they play the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night
transaction
FA: Jimmy Garoppolo dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+3 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Jimmy Garoppolo
general
Stetson Bennett IV seems to be ready to serve as Matthew Stafford's understudy
Two years ago, with Rams backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo due to miss the first two games of the regular season because of a PED suspension, the Rams weren't sure Stetson Bennett IV was ready to serve as the understudy to Matthew Stafford
general
Stetson Bennett IV seems to be ready to serve as Matthew Stafford's understudy
Rams QBs Bennett, Garoppolo, Stafford, and rookie Simpson are in a depth‑chart shuffle as McVay evaluates backup options
general
Takeaways from Cardinals vs. Raiders, including three quarterbacks
Preseason games tell the honest tale on every roster
general
6 Winners and 4 losers from the 49ers’ preseason opener
Taking a look at some under the radar names who stood out for the 49ers against the Titans
general
Stetson Bennett to start for Rams on Saturday vs. Chiefs
Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson will make his preseason debut on Saturday against the Chiefs. But he will not be Los Angeles’ first signal-caller up. Via multiple reporters, head coach Sean McVay said in his Thursday press conference that Stetson Bennett will start the preseason opener. Bennett, a fourth-round pick in 2023, is currently in line to serve as Matthew Stafford’s backup, as Jimmy Garoppolo was not re-signed in free agency — though Garoppolo is still available. Bennett has not yet appeared in a regular-season game. Last year, he completed 69 percent of his passes for 512 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in the preseason, good for a 105.7 passer rating. Simpson is set to come in at some point after Bennett. The Rams also have rookie Matthew Caldwell on their roster at QB. The Rams have not played starters in the preseason under McVay for the vast majority of his tenure with the team. Additionally, McVay noted offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase will serve as the offensive play-caller for the Saturday’s game. McVay handles those duties for L.A. in the regular season
general
49ers-Titans preview: 5 players with something to prove tonight
It’s preseason, which means plenty of players will be fighting for roster spots
general
Ty Simpson will play in the preseason; no decision has been made about Stetson Bennett playing
As the Rams prepare for the first of their three preseason games, coach Sean McVay has made a decision as to whether one of his top backup quarterbacks will play. As to the other, McVay has not. McVay told reporters on Saturday that rookie first-rounder Ty Simpson “definitely” will play. As to veteran Stetson Bennett, McVay said this: “I haven’t decided on Stetson yet.” If Bennett doesn’t play, the 12 quarters of preseason reps will be handled by Simpson and Matthew Caldwell, an undrafted rookie who finished his college career at Texas. Bennett, 28, was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft. He has yet to make a regular-season appearance for the Rams. Eventually, McVay will have to decide whether Simpson or Bennett (or, in theory, Caldwell) will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford. The decision surely will be influenced by Simpson’s performance in the preseason. Depending on how things go, the Rams may need to revisit the possibility of persuading Jimmy Garoppolo, who is open to playing in 2026 , to serve as Stafford’s understudy for a third straight season. McVay may not know for sure until after the third preseason game
general
Top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers entering 2026: Sean McVay, Mike Macdonald lead way
CBS Sports ranked the top 10 offensive and defensive play-callers for the 2026 NFL season. Sean McVay of the Rams and Mike Macdonald of the Seahawks topped their respective lists. Many head coaches also serve as play-callers. The Rams' offense under McVay, utilizing 13 personnel, was particularly dominant in 2025, while Kyle Shanahan's innovative schemes have consistently elevated quarterbacks like Matt Ryan and Brock Purdy
transaction
FA: Jimmy Garoppolo dropped
sleeper-tx-free_agent+4 stories · 30dSource unavailable
Drops: Jimmy Garoppolo
general
How Rams will change training camp to aid Ty Simpson’s development
First-round draft pick Ty Simpson inked his rookie contract with the Los Angeles Rams. He’ll battle with Stetson Bennett to earn the rights to backup Matthew Stafford . As players report to training camp, it seems the Rams have a plan to both manage Stafford’s workload and provide additional opportunities to Simpson in order to aid in his development. Nate Atkins from The Athletic touched on this Saturday : The plan for Simpson is to sit and learn behind Stafford for as long as the reigning MVP continues to play. The Rams feel as if he could use that learning after starting just one season at Alabama, when he led the Crimson Tide to the second round of the College Football Playoff and finished with 28 touchdown passes and five interceptions… Simpson will see some reps this summer as Stafford manages a degenerative back issue. The Rams have broken training camp into four-day blocks where Stafford will practice on the second and third days while resting on the first and fourth days. Stafford will not participate in the team’s first practice on Sunday. Simpson will use this training camp, as well as three preseason games, to try to beat out Stetson Bennett for the No. 2 quarterback role. Jimmy Garoppolo had held that spot for the past two seasons but is a free agent considering retirement. The Rams have seemingly drawn the conclusion after watching Stafford miss the entirety of last year’s camp and then going on to win the NFL’s MVP award that the veteran probably doesn’t need much practice. You can’t argue with the results. Similar to how Jimmy Garoppolo kept the train on tracks in 2025, this approach now creates opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be there for Bennett and Simpson to train with the starters. It’s also more straightforward to evaluate quarterback play when they are operating with a strong supporting cast. Stafford could sit out half of Rams practices— or at least that is the plan for the first week of training camp . That means plenty of time in the spotlight for Simpson. It’s time for the rookie to put on a show
general
Matthew Stafford will have a reduced practice schedule to keep him fresh
Last year, after Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t practice much in training camp due to a back problem, outsiders incorrectly assumed that coach Sean McVay was giving Stafford a break. This year, McVay is giving Stafford a break. Via Sarah Barshop of ESPN, McVay said that Stafford will not practice on the first and third days of the Rams’ four-day training-camp practice blocks. The goal, said McVay, will be to keep Stafford “fresh and ready to go” for Week 1. At times last August, it appeared that Stafford wouldn’t be ready to go for Week 1. He ultimately played the whole year, had one of the best seasons of his career, and won his first NFL MVP award. So, no, he doesn’t need a full slate of practice reps. In turn, Stafford’s potential backups do. With no veteran option (for now), Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett need the work. And with Jimmy Garoppolo suddenly talking about playing again, the Rams may decide that they need to get him to come back for another season as QB2 in L.A
general
Stetson Bennett faces uncertain Rams future as Jimmy Garoppolo weighs return
Jimmy Garoppolo may have reopened the door to an obvious solution for the Rams’ uncertain backup quarterback situation. After considering retirement, the 34-year-old veteran is reportedly willing to continue his NFL career if the right opportunity becomes available. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, a return to Los Angeles remains possible, and Sean McVay would welcome Garoppolo back. “I love Jimmy. Would absolutely want him back,” McVay said earlier this year. “He’s been tremendous for the last couple of years.” That possibility creates another problem for Stetson Bennett. The Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving the organization a long-term successor to Matthew Stafford . McVay has publicly described the backup job as a competition between Simpson and Bennett, but it would be surprising if Los Angeles placed its first-round investment behind the former fourth-round pick. Bennett has spent three years learning McVay’s offense but has yet to appear in a regular-season game. If Simpson claims the No. 2 job and the Rams bring back Garoppolo, Bennett could the odd man out. Garoppolo would also give Los Angeles a layer of protection it lacked after his contract expired. Stafford missed much of training camp last year while dealing with a back injury that briefly raised concerns about a possible injured-reserve stint. Garoppolo provided a steady veteran presence during that period, allowing the Rams to manage Stafford carefully without forcing Bennett into a role he had not earned. Stafford eventually returned and won MVP, but the episode illustrated why Los Angeles may not want Simpson or Bennett to be its only emergency option. Simpson was drafted for the future and throwing him into a championship race before he is ready could disrupt that development. Garoppolo owns a 43-21 record as a starter and has extensive experience in the NFC West. He may prefer an opportunity to compete for a starting job, but few teams currently offer one. Arizona has also been mentioned as a possible destination. Indianapolis and New England could use more experienced insurance behind Daniel Jones and Drake Maye , while a San Francisco reunion could become possible if the 49ers trade Mac Jones . Garoppolo could also wait for an injury to create a better opening during camp. The Rams, however, offer familiarity, a Super Bowl-caliber roster and a coach who has repeatedly praised him. They also offer something Bennett may not: a proven route onto the field
general
Rams sign Ty Simpson to rookie contract
The Los Angeles Rams have finally come to terms with quarterback Ty Simpson on his rookie contract, assuring that the first-year signal caller will be with the team for the first day of training camp. Simpson’s contract, which had a predetermined number of years and dollar amount already, is a four-year, $25.4 deal that is fully-guaranteed, and a fifth-year option that the team will need to make a decision on in 2029. The contract contains a $14.94 million signing bonus, per Ian Rapoport. Simpson, the 13th overall pick in the 2026 draft out of Alabama, is competing against Stetson Bennett to be Matthew Stafford ’s backup quarterback. The Rams could also continue to call Jimmy Garoppolo about the job given that the quarterback has put aside thoughts of retirement and is open to the right situation, per reports this week. I recently spoke to Brent Taylor, an Alabama blogger, about Simpson’s four years with the Crimson Tide . He speaks highly of Simpson’s ability to read a defense and to consume an NFL playbook quickly, the type of skills that should translate well for Sean McVay. But that he will need to gain more awareness of oncoming rushers and pull the trigger faster, things that he will have to work on in training camp. McVay has spoken more highly of Bennett’s development this offseason than Simpson’s, but that’s only through a handful of practices. Nothing compared to training camp. So with Simpson under contract, the competition can really begin
general
Report: Jimmy Garoppolo is open to playing in 2026
Jimmy Garoppolo is reportedly considering returning to the NFL in 2026 after initially thinking about retirement. The Rams, with Stetson Bennett as their backup and Ty Simpson a highly drafted rookie, could potentially use Garoppolo's experience if Matthew Stafford were to miss time, though his desire for playing time might lead him to other teams
general
Report: Jimmy Garoppolo open to playing after considering retirement
Free agent quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo considered retirement during the offseason, but Garoppolo has now decided he will come back to play in the right situation, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports. Garafolo noted that nothing is imminent, and it might take a quarterback injury for Garoppolo to sign somewhere. Garoppolo spent the past two seasons with the Rams as Matthew Stafford 's backup. Coach Sean McVay has kept the door open to Garoppolo's return despite the team's first-round selection of Ty Simpson . Garoppolo, 34, was a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2014 and also has played for the 49ers and Raiders in his 12 seasons. He has appeared in 85 games with 64 starts -- 55 coming with the 49ers — and is 43-21 as a starter. Garoppolo has totaled 15,828 passing yards, 96 touchdowns and 52 interceptions
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.