Stetson Bennett success could have tremendous ripple effects for Rams future

Stetson Bennett was out of football for most of 2023

I don't know that bad impressions about Stetson Bennett's upside are necessarily off-base. After all, the window of public exhibition of his football form and production has been limited to preseason games. He has competed in five games. Because the Rams sit starters and key rotational players. He has taken the football field with backups, third-stringers, and players who would be released from the roster.

He faced other NFL teams, many do not sit starters for preseason games. At least, not for all of it. So, how did Stetson Bennett do?

• 2023 - Game 1 | 17 of 29 passes, 191 yards, 1 TD | 2 run, 2 yards
• 2023 - Game 2 | 15 of 24 passes, 142 yards, 1 INT | 1 run, 4 yards
• 2023 - Game 3 | 4 of 9 passes, 14 yards, 2 INTs
• 2024 - Game 1 | 24 of 38 passes, 224 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs | 1 run, 5 yards
• 2024 - Game 2 | 17 of 31 passes, 213 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 3 runs, (-1) yards

You can find whatever you want to find in Bennett's limited work. Preseason is about airing it out and fixing mistakes that show up. Yes, Stetson Bennett threw eight interceptions in five preseason games, but he was working behind a makeshift offensive line and throwing to receivers who might not make the team. As players proved themselves, they were pulled from other preseason games. Puka Nacua played just one preseason game. Bennett has to play all three games in 2023.

Bennett walked away after the 2023 preseason. After struggling in his final preseason game, the effort to compete for a spot on the Rams' bench seemed anticlimactic. While he stepped away from the game, perhaps he saved himself from being outright cut or signed to the practice squad, where another team might poach him.

However, it may have turned out, only one thing is certain. He returned to the Rams training camp and was more determined than ever. And of course, he had to be on his best behavior. He was on a short leash as far as the team was concerned.

He was rusty in the 2024 preseason games that he played, but he did manage to engineer the game-winning drives in both preseason games he played. In terms of preseason passers, he was runner-up to Dallas Cowboys QB Trey Lance, despite only playing two preseason games.

Thanks to Bennett's passing prowess, both Rams WRs Xavier Smith and Jordan Whittington ended the 2024 preseason among the top five NFL receivers in terms of number of receptions.