The Los Angeles Rams provided us both good and bad in their BLANK against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Los Angeles Rams took care of business on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium with an impressive win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams came out on top (and with ease), 20-12, to collect their first win of the preseason.
There was a lot to like about the contest, and some that was left to be desired. Here are the winners and losers from the Rams' preseason opener.
Winners
Ty Simpson
The Rams' 13th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft was sharp and only got better throughout the game. Simpson played the majority of the game, replacing Stetson Bennett in the first quarter after the Rams' initial two drives.
Simpson finished the contest with 190 passing yards, completing 21-of-25 passes and two touchdowns.
The QB2 competition may go down to the wire if Simpson continues to blossom. Through one game of the preseason, the rookie looked like the potential successor Los Angeles hopes he'll become.
Max Klare
Klare led all pass catchers with 58 receiving yards on four receptions. It’s clear Simpson and Klare felt comfortable with each other, building that chemistry throughout training camp.
It seems to have paid off in a big way, as he did his part to lead the Rams to their first unofficial win of the 2026 season.
Special teams
Considering how bad the special team was last season, it was encouraging to see that unit be competent, even though it was the first game of the preseason. From kick returns to punt returns to field goals and punting, that phase of the Rams team was sharp.
Brennan Presley and Mario Williams, the Rams kick returners, combined for 110 yards. Rams punt returner Xavier Smith was also great, collecting 52 yards on three returns.
The field goal and punt snaps, along with the follow-throughs, all went off without a hitch as well.
Losers
Stetson Bennett IV
Bennett only played in the first two drives of that game, but he did not look sharp. The veteran quarterback attempted only six passes. Four of them were completions for 38 yards.
After five seasons under Sean McVay, you’d think Bennett would look light years ahead of what Simpson looked like, but that was far from the case.
It was far from a great start to the preseason for Bennett.
Keagen Trost and Offensive Line Depth
Trost was ruled out early in the game due to a hamstring injury. The rookie offensive lineman exited after the first quarter, and the extent of the injury remains unclear.
If the injury is serious, there’s a chance the former third-round pick could miss regular-season time, which could be a huge blow for the Rams' offensive line depth.
Trost, 25, has a chance to play a vital role for the Rams this season and certainly for years to come, especially depending on how next offseason plays out with many offensive linemen set to be free agents.
