Pressure On, Ty Simpson?

Carson Beck was stellar in his preseason debut in the NFL Hall of Fame Game for the Arizona Cardinals.

The rookie third-round pick completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards with a score. He also added two rushes for three yards on the ground. His most impressive moment was leading a 13-play, 96-yard touchdown drive.

Many felt Beck would be a throwaway pick with Jacoby Brissett set to start in a bridge year. The Cardinals will likely be returning to the quarterback market next offseason, especially if they again find themselves picking early in the draft. This was Beck’s first opportunity to say “what about me” and he passed the test.

But Beck—Stetson Bennett’s backup at Georgia—was drafted two rounds after Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson. Beck’s preseason success applies pressure to his fellow rookie. If Beck can play well, there are no excuses for Simpson.

Sean McVay has not yet discussed his plan for which quarterbacks will take the field in the exhibition games for the Rams. Matthew Stafford is resting for roughly 50% of the team’s practices. Bennett has led the first team during the MVP’s off days.

We know the Rams usually do not play starters or key contributors in the preseason. Bennett may fall into the key contributor category now, even though he has played a lot of football this time of year for Los Angeles.

And should Bennett earn the safety of the sidelines—indicating that he’s likely going to make the 53-man roster—we will likely see a lot of Simpson. Beck played a full half for Arizona, and we should expect a similar (if not larger) workload from the Rams’ rookie.

Beck set the bar high. Simpson must meet the moment. He needs to prove that he can be trusted with the keys to a high-flying offense if Stafford decides to call it a career as soon as next season.

Does Simpson need to be perfect? No, that is never a fair expectation. We simply need to see glimpses of the potential that made him the thirteenth pick in this spring’s draft. It would be nice to see a Rams quarterback with mobility and a sign that a modern prototype could soon lead the LA offense.

The pressure is on for Ty Simpson.