- Bennett was drafted in the first round after playing for the Georgia Bulldogs
- The Rams promote Brett Rypien from the practice squad to take his place
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The Los Angeles Rams have placed rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett on the team’s non-football injury list.
Rams head coach Sean McVay chose not to provide details on why Bennett was placed on the NFI list.
Bennett led Georgia to the past two national championships before Los Angeles drafted him in the fourth round.
“There are certain things that I think are a little bit bigger and more important, and out of respect for the details and the details, I want to be able to keep it in-house,” McVay said.
Bennett as expected won the job as Matthew Stafford’s primary backup during the preseason, but he missed the Rams’ season-opening win in Seattle with what the team said was a right shoulder injury.
Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback Stetson Bennett has been placed on the NFI list
Rams head coach Sean McVay declined to provide details on why the decision was made
Brett Rypien will move up from the practice squad this week to take on the backup role, McVay said.
Bennett will miss at least the Rams’ next four games on the NFI list.
“I have a lot of love for Stetson,” Stafford said. “Appreciate him as a teammate, and Brett (Rypien) and I will continue with it.”
McVay said Bennett’s move to the NFI list had nothing to do with his shoulder injury. McVay also said he recently met Bennett.
Rypien signed with the Rams in May after appearing in eight games with three starts over the previous three seasons for the Denver Broncos.
“The fortunate thing for us is that Brett Rypien has been in-house,” McVay said.
“He’s on our practice squad. He was the backup last week, and he will remain in that situation until something changes on that front.”
Bennett was the first quarterback drafted by the Rams during McVay’s seven seasons in charge, and McVay spoke at length about his desire to help Bennett become an effective professional.
Brett Rypien is promoted from the practice squad to fill Bennett’s spot on the roster
Los Angeles hadn’t drafted a quarterback since taking Jared Goff first overall in 2016.
Bennett, who turns 26 next month, led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles, highlighted by a win over TCU at SoFi Stadium last January. He also won the Manning Award as the nation’s top collegiate quarterback.
John Wolford and Bryce Perkins were Stafford’s backups last season, but the Rams cut ties with both this offseason. Baker Mayfield, who signed with Tampa Bay, played the final five games of last season for the Rams while Stafford was injured.
The Rams (1-0) host San Francisco in their home opener on Sunday.