Special to The Times
LOS ANGELES — Pierce County alum and two-time national champion Stetson Bennett has secured a spot on the 53-man Los Angeles Rams roster.
The announcement was made Tuesday, August 26 with the National Football League’s mandated final cuts heading into the 2025 season. He will serve as a backup to starter Matthew Stafford, making it a Bulldog reunion behind center for the Rams.
“I don’t think there can be a better guy in the room,” said Bennett of Stafford. “He’s seen it all and been through it all, highs and lows. Just the way he goes out and handles each day. I try and learn as much from him and apply it the best I can.”
Because Rams head coach Sean McVay does not traditionally play the starters in the preseason, the door was open for Bennett to make a strong impression Bennett went 41-of-69 (59.4 percent) with 437 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions in the pre-season. Four of those turnovers, however, came in one game. Bennett, known for making plays with his legs in college, only gained four rushing yards on four attempts.
He led a game-winning touchdown drive during that game where he threw four interceptions, throwing a side-arm game-winning score on the run to Miller Forristall with eight seconds left on fourth-and-goal.
The decision on whether Bennett would get a roster spot was a big question heading into training camp after a strenuous start to his career that saw him step away from football for an entire year.
He insinuated there were mental health battles which required him to leave the game of football for some time.
It was roughly three weeks ago McVay had positive remarks to say about Bennett when asked about the state of the quarterback position with his team.
The Rams also signed veteran signal-caller Jimmy Garropolo in the offseason, but he is set to serve a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance- enhancing drugs.
“Here’s what I will say is, (I’m) super impressed obviously with Matthew in the offseason,” McVay said at the time. “I thought Stetson made tremendous growth. I thought Jimmy looked like the guy that I’ve seen playing at a really high level, and that gives me confidence.”
