As feared, Rams face opening the 2024 season without 2 key players

The backup QB conundrum

When it comes to the LA Rams backup quarterback situation, fans have rarely aligned with the team's strategy. The Rams have viewed the backup quarterback position as the guy who holds the clipboard and runs the scouting team in weekly practices to prepare the defense for what they might see on game day.

Of course, the team has benefitted from incredibly durable starting quarterbacks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford from 2017 through 2021. But that all changed in 2022, forcing the team to rethink how they view that backup quarterback position. The team signed out-of-favor QB Baker Mayfield in the middle of the 2022 NFL season, and was pleased at how quickly he absorbed the playbook. He eventually signed on to become the starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.

The Rams tried to address the backup QB role by drafting former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett, but he was assigned to the NFI/IR roster at the start of the 2023 NFL season. Ultimately, the Rams turned to an out-of-favor NFL veteran QB named Carson Wentz in the middle of the 2023 NFL season. Wentz was able to snap the Rams losing streak to the San Francisco 49ers to close out the 2023 NFL season.

That made Wentz the fan's choice to return as the team's backup quarterback for 2024.

But the Rams front office had other ideas. The team, quite familiar with the skillsets and competitiveness of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, decided that he made the best backup quarterback option for the team in 2024. In a mild surprise, the team chose to sign Garoppolo, knowing that he faces a two-game suspension to open the 2024 NFL season.

That creates a bit of pressure for the team to have a viable backup to the QB2 to open the 2024 NFL season. To that end, the team has finally stated that they are looking forward to welcoming second-year quarterback Stetson Bennett to the Rams 2024 training camp. While that may not sit well with all fans, it's the best option this team can come up with for now.

For now, the team will need to back up QB2 Jimmy Garoppolo for two games to open up the 2024 NFL season. Will Stetson Bennett be up to the task? We will find out soon enough.