NFL rumors: What happened to LA Rams backup QB Stetson Bennett?

When the LA Rams added former Georgia star quarterback, the team was thrilled to add a two-time NCAA Championship quarterback to the Rams roster. It was not only a position that the Rams needed to address, but the Rams front office and coaching staff were thrilled that the young man had fallen to them in Round 4.

Early reports out of OTAs and training camp sessions confirmed the Rams excitement. While a rookie who was learning a brand new brand of offense, and doing so under the pressure of the elevated level of the NFL, Stetson Bennett unveiled a wide range of football skills that blended nicely with the Rams offensive philosophy. Better yet, Bennett showed the ability to innovate if and when the play broke down.

Bennett takes a step backward in preseason

The promising reports seemed to be confirmed as the Rams preseason got underway, as Stetson Bennett had a solid NFL debut. But the pressure of being the backup quarterback to Matthew Stafford, and preparing to start preseason games for the LA Rams, seemed to take a toll on Bennett.

It's not unusual for rookies to need time to develop to the level of the NFL. And the complexity of the LA Rams offense is such that it gives quarterbacks a myriad of options in terms of reads as to the right direction to throw the football in nearly any defensive formation. But to a rookie, it's all just bells and whistles to a player who is struggling to comprehend the basics.

Desite a Game 1 loss in preseason, Bennett very much looked the part of a promising rookie NFL quarterback. But by the time of his appearance in Game 3, he appeared to be a player who was simply showing up for a paycheck. The Rams rookie quarterback completed just four of nine passes for 14 yards and two interceptions. After that performance, the LA Rams had a surprising announcement to make:

Bennett opened the season fighting a shoulder injury. and was inactive for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. But Stetson Bennett's rookie season took a significant turn just days after the start of the 2023 NFL season.

Stetson Bennett's path is a mystery

1. Stetson Bennett fighting issues that are 'Bigger than Football'
2. What about any Stetson Bennett updates?

Stetson Bennett fighting issues that are 'Bigger than Football'

While rookies can have huge swings in their performance as they acclimate to various NFL teams and are confronted with new challenges, the regression that Stetson Bennett seemed to suffer was beyond the range of normal NFL rookie challenges. Did he suffer from stage fright? Did the pressure of competing at the NFL level suddenly come to a breaking point?

Whatever the cause of the precipitous drop in his production, we only know three things: The first fact is that the LA Rams decided that the solution was best handled by placing Stetson Bennett on the Non-Football Injury/ Injured Reserve list. That removes Bennett from football activities for a minimum of at least four weeks of NFL activities. Just to refresh everyone's memory, Bennett is entering his seventh week away from NFL activities.

Bennett battling 'Bigger than Football' issues

The second fact is the fact that LA Rams head coach Sean McVay cited the reasons that Stetson Bennett was placed on the NFL/IR roster was that he was facing issues that were 'Bigger than Football.' If you weren't intrigued as to the causes before McVay explained, you have to be curious now.

That was all a bit shrouded in mystery, wasn't it? But the follow up from LA Rams head coach Sean McVay did little more than stir up the muddy water.

McVay further elaborated that, out of respect to Stetson Bennett, all other information about the circumstances surrounding backup quarterback Stetson Bennett would be kept 'in-house.' That is often the case whenever a situation surfaces that can be misinterpreted by the general public at large, is associated with a medical situation, or a personal tragedy that must be dealt with.

The third fact is a bit more interpretive. Since the LA Rams front office has not made any effort to sign a new quarterback to either the active roster (other than to promote QB Brett Rypien) or to the practice squad, It is a logical conclusion to believe that the Rams expect to welcome Stetson Bennett back this season. Since an NFL season runs 18 weeks, or approximately 126 days, you could draw a logical conclusion that Bennett's absence is expected to be less than that amount of time.

In the absence of hard facts, speculation has run amok. While we will address some potential outcomes of where this matter will ultimately resolve itself, I won't entertain baseless speculation that has been going viral on social media or in chat rooms. So what about any updates?

What about any Stetson Bennett updates?

Before we explore what might be, this is as good of a time as any to review what criteria is required to place an NFL player on the NFI/IR list. The criteria for placement on an NFL team's NFI list include the following circumstances:

• A player who suffers an injury away from the team’s practice facility.
• A long-term illness outside of football.
• A previous injury that prevents a player from practicing at the start of his rookie season.

Since the LA Rams did get Bennett actively participating in OTAs through preseason games, we can rule out the third scenario. And in the absence of any reported accident report, the first scenario is an unlikely scenario as well. That suggests that Stetson Bennett is battling some form of long-term medical condition that prevents him from actively participating in NFL football activities.

How is Stetson Bennett holding up?

The good news is, relatively speaking, that LA Rams head coach Sean McVay did indeed provide an additional update after 10 days had passed from his original report on Stetson Bennett's status. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue was one of several reporters who cited McVay's update on Bennett:

While McVay was unwilling to place any form of timetable as to when Bennett was likely to return to the Rams active roster, he did share encouraging news about the young rookie quarterback:

"He (Stetson Bennett)'s doing really well, which I was really encouraged to be able to hear. Got a chance to hear his voice and he sounds really good, and that was really cool to hear."
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Rams HC Sean McVay

There is a wide assortment of speculation occurring right now and throughout social media. I did discover one responsible discussion video podcast that touched on some of the possibilities of what Stetson Bennett may be facing right now.

There are plenty of informational vacuums that almost invite fan-originated scenarios over the course and outcome of Stetson Bennett's absence. It cannot be a controlled substance matter, as that would have triggered an immediate NFL disciplinary decision that would have resulted in an officially sanctioned suspension.

Because the suggestion has been introduced in the video above if the matter has anything to do with some form of alcohol rehabilitation, that would certainly fit the inability to predict any reliable timetable for his return. Those types of rehabilitation or treatment programs can last for 30, 60, or 90 days, and are customized for the needs of the person in need of help.

For now, Stetson Bennett is not participating in football activities because that is how the NFL has structure Injured Reserve (IR) rosters. And regardless of what the cause may or may not be, the LA Rams are sticking with Bennett as a backup quarterback this season. Bennett has been on the NFI IR list for 33 days, or nearly five weeks. In terms of his return, he has already met the minimum amount of time, so now it's up to Bennett himself as to when he is ready to return.

A 60 day timeline would place him open to return on or about November 12, 2023. A 90-day window would place him open to return open to return on or about December 12, 2023. For now, all we can do is wait, and hope for the best.