Stetson Bennett has been inconsistent while playing quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams in their two preseason games. However, Bennett has come through in crucial moments.
He threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to JJ Laap in the fourth quarter, leading the Rams to a 13-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
Bennett, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Rams last year after leading the University of Georgia to two national championships, missed the regular season to focus on his mental health.
This preseason, Bennett has had six turnovers (five interceptions and one fumble). Despite these mistakes, he has shown resilience.
In a game against Dallas last Sunday, Bennett threw four interceptions, but his 6-yard touchdown pass to Miller Forristall with 4 seconds left secured a 13-12 win for the Rams.
Bennett said, “I think when you don’t play football for so long, you want it to be perfect, but you kind of got to make those mistakes to learn from them. As much as I don’t want to do that, it is good that some things like that happen so you can learn from them.”
Bennett completed 17 of 31 passes for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He connected with Laap after the undrafted rookie beat Chargers cornerback Zamari Walton on a go route down the middle with 9:48 left.
Earlier in the game, Bennett threw an interception to Deane Leonard deep in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, and Joshua Karty missed a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Bennett explained, “They went quarters, and we’d been running the ball, so the safety kind of bit up and JJ was basically one-on-one out there on the corner because the safety had bit up, so just put it up and he made a good play.”
Karty made two field goals for the Rams (2-0). Bennett has played the entire game at quarterback in both preseason games, with starter Matthew Stafford and backup Jimmy Garoppolo on the sideline.
“In practice, I’ve had a couple of deep passes where I executed similarly,” Laap said. “So, to do that on a big stage like this was awesome. I knew before the play started that I might have a chance. When the ball was in the air, I just focused on making a play.”
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals for coach Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers (0-2). While the offense showed some progress from the first preseason game, they still didn’t score a touchdown.
The Chargers and Bills are the only teams that haven’t scored an offensive touchdown this preseason.
The Chargers advanced to the Rams’ 21-yard line with 3:31 left, but Cornelius Johnson dropped a pass from Luis Perez on fourth-and-4, which would have given the Chargers a first down.
Harbaugh said, “I feel like we’re making progress. We need to focus on the details and control what we can in all areas of offense, defense, and special teams.”
With franchise quarterback Justin Herbert out with a foot injury, backup Easton Stick led two drives that ended in field goals by Dicker during the first half. Stick also had turnovers on back-to-back drives in the second quarter.
The Chargers faced third-and-1 on the Rams’ 2-yard line, but Stick fumbled the snap from center Brenden Jaimes, and Rams safety Jason Taylor recovered the ball.
On the following drive, Jaylen McCollough intercepted a pass from Stick at the Rams’ 26-yard line, which was intended for Simi Fehoko.
