There was plenty of speculation throughout 2023 regarding the status of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett. The team's fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft spent the entire 2023 season on the reserved/non-football illness list.
Bennett returned to the team ahead of the 2024 draft and, according to Rams head coach Sean McVay, has made plenty of strides with the team.
"There were some opportunities where Stetson came in – I was really pleased with his overall improvement, his command, like I mentioned, his attention in the meetings....they’re taking steps in the right direction"
Bennett did explain that his absence from the team was mental health related, but refused to comment more other than his desire to keep it in-house.
In an interview last month, Rams general manager Les Snead discussed Bennett's year-long absence. While Snead didn't outright say what specifically caused Bennett to be placed on the reserved/non-football illness list, he did shed some light on Bennett's mental health last season.
"I know this: Last year was very beneficial for him. I think he took advantage of that year away from the game..You know what, he’s an exhausted human being based on everything he had done to walk on, to go to JUCO, to come back, to turn down small schools, say ‘I’m going to try to do this Georgia thing.’ To win a job, then to win the thing, and then to determine, ‘I’m going to come back.’ And when you come back, it’s really win it again or you failed. And that does take a toll on a human being, so I was jacked for Stetson to be able to take that moment and breathe a little bit."
Bennett isn't the QB1 for the Rams, and might not ever be, but his performance so far seems like he'll give Jimmy Garoppolo a run for his money for the primary backup spot behind Matthew Stafford. A strong summer and preseason could see him lock that job up for the remainder of his rookie contract.
