Rams Winners & Losers: Ty Simpson secures backup status?

The Los Angeles Rams put the finishing touches on an unbeaten preseason led mostly by strong quarterback play. They held onto a last-minute surge by the Los Angeles Chargers to maintain a 20-18 lead.

Sunday brings an important deadline in the NFL calendar. All 32 teams must soon cut to their initial 53-man regular season rosters. The "Winners & Losers" list is largely shaped by those who helped build their case, although the framework is mostly set by those who sat out of Thursday night's finale.

Who performed well on an individual level against the other LA team? Which players are watching their stock fall?

Ty Simpson came into Thursday night's game with the lowest average depth of target (ADOT) among all rookie quarterbacks —by far. Simpson averaged 4.80 air yards in the first two preseason games. That mark improved to 6.1 yards against the Chargers. That would still rank last among all first-year signal callers.

Simpson completed 18 of 23 passes (78%) for 119 yards and an impressive touchdown throw on the run. He finishes the preseason 47 of 60 (78%) for 382 yards, three scores, zero turnovers, and a passer rating of 109.9.

This isn't meant to bash Simpson. Many fans didn't like the pick. He's won a lot of people over. There are still a number of questions that remain unanswered. We are able to check some boxes: short and intermediate area accuracy, value-add mobility, ability to throw on the run, sack avoidance, and an overall poised composure. We haven't seen Simpson throw deep and it's fair to wonder whether his efficiency can be sustained when the offense requires him to be consistently more aggressive.

I think fans are losing sight of the fact that Simpson seems to be a high floor player. We haven't seen the rookie make many mistakes. We still have no idea how high his ceiling is. The preseason really taught us nothing in that regard.

So big picture, Simpson made as convincing as a case to be Stafford's backup as to be reasonably expected. That is a win for the Rams. In terms of his potential to takeover the starting job as soon as 2027 and his viability as a franchise quarterback? That is still completely unknown.

The difficult truth is that the Rams may be completely set at running back with Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and Ronnie Rivers. Sean McVay is adamant that he trusts Rivers and values his contributions on special teams.

With Jarquez Hunter getting traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Tutu Atwell just hours before kickoff, there was an opportunity for Dean Connors and Jordan Waters to make their final argument to make the team. Connors did everything he could to help his case. It still may not be enough.

Connors rushed 18 times for 69 yards (3.8 average, although several carries came late to milk the clock and not put emergency QB Simpson in harm's way). He also added three catches for 24 yards and a score through the air. This was his third touchdown of the preseason. It also happened to be quarterback Matthew Caldwell's first NFL touchdown.

And if the Rams end up cutting Connors, he may draw attention from other teams. Running back tends to be a position where there is a short learning curve to adapt to a specific scheme. They are largely plug and play. That makes them somewhat interchangeable.

With their wealth of riches in the backfield, that may be enough for the Rams to not keep Connors on the 53-man roster. If there isn't a stark drop off from Connors to Waters, why not bet that one of them will be available for the practice squad. It's not personal. It's a numbers game.

You can't ask any more from your kicker than being perfect in the preseason. Harrison Mevis made all six of his attempts across the three exhibition games. He hasn't been asked to kick from distance—his longest attempt was from 40 yards out. Still, you can only convert the opportunities you get. This is real and positive momentum heading into the regular season.

With another five catches on six targets for 42 yards, Daniels was clearly LA's most talented and productive preseason receiver. The Rams were intent on running the passing game through him when they could, especially in last week's contest against the New Orleans Saints.

But on-field production isn't Daniels' biggest challenge. He's clearly behind Jordan Whittington and Konata Mumpfield on the depth chart. If he makes the roster, it may be a long while before we see the rookie again.

Bailey played only two snaps on defense. He started the game and then exited after Justin Herbert's fumble on the second play. Did the Rams want to limit Bailey's time in order to keep him healthy because he's in line to make the roster? The only other alternative is that Bailey was injured during the game. There were no such reports. This is a noteworthy result worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's cutdown to the 53-man roster.

Norton is someone who has consistently flashed on preseason tape over the last two years. He has a high motor and can often be seen chasing ball carriers downfield. It's impressive for a big man. Teams that need additional depth along the defense interior should have Norton atop their target list as the NFL trims their rosters. He can help someone and approaches the game in the right way.

Stetson Bennett obviously didn't play on Thursday night. He filled up the box score last Saturday, though he was erratic as a passer .

Simpson seems ready to backup Matthew Stafford. If the rookie ends up winning the job, I fail to understand why it is worth keeping Bennett around. Would it be nice to have someone who knows the offense as an option if something happens to Stafford? Sure, but there will be veteran options like Jimmy Garoppolo available and somehow losing Stafford and Simpson would mean the Rams have awfully bad luck.

Bennett had to win the backup job convincingly. He didn't. For that reason there is not sound logic behind potentially keeping him around.

Justin Herbert's night was cut short after he threw a 64-yard pass to split two Rams defenders for a touchdown. Lampkin was on the wrong side of that deep ball. He also played late into the game despite having one of the most hyped starts to training camp. It's not how you start, it's about how you finish. Lampkin's last impression likely won't help him in what should be a lean cornerback room.

Failed to make a reception on four targets, and when quarterbacks looked his way he was often blanketed. Simpson gave him a contested catch opportunity deep along the left sideline and the corner handily won the rep.