Note: no chat for the KC pre-season game, this is our game thread

[zn]

So all game talk and then tweets etc go in ths thread.

[zn]

Halftime. Watched Stewart. No complaints. Wasn’t like watching Josh Allen, but he’s efficient. McVay likes to roll him out. He was 9 of 11 for 74. Klare caught a few. KC’s offense had so many flags it was like a 4th of July parade.

[zn]

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
Rams rookie Keagen Trost, who started this preseason game at right tackle, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

[zn]

Simpson really picked up in the 2nd half.

Daniels made a catch that basically showed he could be everything we’ve been saying he is.

[joemad]

Ty Simpson “Razor Sharp”

[zn]

zn wrote:

Daniels made a catch that basically showed he could be everything we’ve been saying he is.

Ty zips one to CJ!

📺 @CBSLosAngeles | 📲 https://t.co/R5m5kJYWYi pic.twitter.com/H9uY1ITr2I

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 15, 2026

[zn]

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
In his first NFL preseason game, Rams first-round pick Ty Simpson has completed 21-of-25 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP
Thought Ty Simpson was calm & cool in his debut, certainly looked like he belonged. Lots of dump-offs and boring offense, but 4th Q got to see him go through some true dropback game and progressions.

Looked decisive and generally accurate; also saw the mobility on display. Fun.

Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP
Aight man all of sudden Simpson can’t stop ripping it down field lmao

Rams Tapes@RamsTapes
Ty Simpson is cooking 🔥

HoldenCantor@HoldenCantor
Ty Simpson has got IT bro

RAMILIA SPORTS REPORT (RSR)@SportsRamilia
1st rd draft pick Ty Simpson showing he’s equally effective moving to his left and he is moving to his right throwing on target and nice touch layering the ball over defenders, nice to know TY isn’t just a “Layer King” he also has the “arm talent” to Lazer the ball or throw deep

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Ty Simpson with touchdown pass No. 2 – once again to Dean Connors.

Rams are rolling behind their rookie quarterback. That was his best drive of the afternoon.

It went about as well as it possibly could have, and though both the Rams offense and Chiefs defense were basic and vanilla, it’s hard not to be encouraged by what we saw from the rookie. After taking short, quick throws initially, he began to go through his progressions and push the ball down the field more as the game went on.

Chase Daniel@ChaseDaniel
Ty Simpson has played exceptional today

This dude has looked the best out of the rookie QB’s & it’s not particularly close

FOX Sports: NFL@NFLonFOX
Ty Simpson put on a show in his first preseason game 🤩

Ramsoholic@ShayTweetedThat
TD #2 for Simpson

Absolute LASER!!!

IVE SEEN ENOUGH

…

from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-scores-results/146069/rams-chief-preseason-final-score-simpson?utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=%3Cmedia_url%3E&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

it was Simpson who starred, as Sean McVay clearly wants to give his rookie ample opportunity to gain experience in an NFL environment. And the results were quite good. Even of the play calling was largely vanilla, Simpson continuously executed and gave his receivers a chance to make plays after the catch, opening up on couple throws late in the game to fellow rookies Max Klare and CJ Daniels.

[zn]

…

TY SIMPSON HIGHLIGHTS 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/ND4OoTSDxN

— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) August 15, 2026

…

[zn]

5 Takeaways from Rams’ 20-12 preseason Week 1 win over Chiefs

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/5-takeaways-from-rams-20-12-preseason-week-1-win-over-chiefs-ty-simpson-looks-comfortable-max-klare-a-trustworthy-target-xavier-smith-s-big-punt-return-and-more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Rams’ 20-12 preseason opening win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium saw plenty to like from the rookies and younger players, especially on offense. Quarterback Ty Simpson got more comfortable as the game went on, and plenty of his rookie classmates also saw action as expected, highlighted by tight end Max Klare’s productive day. Wide receiver Xavier Smith also had an explosive punt return to set up one of the touchdown-scoring drives.

Here are five takeaways from the contest.

1) Simpson settles in: Though Los Angeles went 3-and-out on his first series, Simpson’s second drive looked smoother, completing 4 of 4 passes for 41 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis, and he remained in that rhythm for the rest of the game. The Alabama product finished the afternoon completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, both to running back Dean Connors.

2) Bennett bounces back from difficult opening drive: Getting the start on Saturday, Bennett and Los Angeles’ offense went 3-and-out on their first series befor he found his rhythm on the second and led them on a 13-play, 73-yard scoring drive that ended with a 25-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Mevis. After an incompletion on his first pass attempt, Bennett completed four of his next five passes (all on that second drive). He finished 4 for 6 passing for 38 yards before Simpson checked at the beginning of the Rams’ third offensive possesion.

3) Trost exits game with hamstring injury: Rookie offensive lineman Keagen Trost, who started Saturday’s game at right tackle, left the first quarter with a hamstring injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Blake Hance replaced Trost at right tackle.

4) Klare a reliable target: Targeted a team-high eight times, Klare finished with seven receptions for 37 yards – much of those from Simpson – displaying the skillset that made him look like a great fit alongside the returning personnel at tight end.

5) Smith delivers special teams highlight: A 40-yard punt return by Smith to the Kansas City 23 at the start of the fourth quarter had special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone fired up. The offense was just as excited, and capitalized with a drive that ended with Simpson’s first touchdown pass of the game.

[InvaderRam]

besides simpson of course, i thought connors and klare looked good.

[zn]

Rookie QB Ty Simpson comfortably ran Rams’ offense in preseason win vs. Chiefs

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7516023/2026/08/15/ty-simpson-rams-rookies-preseason-chiefs/

Four months after the Los Angeles Rams made the bold decision to draft Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick, the time finally came to see the franchise’s quarterback of the future in a real game setting.

Simpson’s run became the headliner in the Rams’ 20-12 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He took all but two series of the work behind center, leaving just a brief start for Stetson Bennett. And Simpson ran a smooth operation by finishing 21-of-25 for 190 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 125.0 rating.

It was clear the Rams wanted to use this preseason opener to get Simpson comfortable in an NFL-style offense. This was a reduced version called by new offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, with minimal opponent-specific game planning while facing the Chiefs’ backups.

But this was his first opportunity to play against a live pass rush, which tested one of the traits that drew Los Angeles to Simpson. The mobility was on display on many run-pass option and play-action rollout concepts designed around the intent to throw.

What was most encouraging about Simpson was how comfortable he looked moving to either his left or right. To most effectively fit the Sean McVay playbook whenever it is his time to start, Simpson will need to keep both sides of the field open and prevent defenses from dictating or eliminating the concepts they want to run.

The volume was another big shift, too, as Simpson has had a strikingly low number of reps in training camp despite the unsettled nature of the Rams’ backup quarterback position after Jimmy Garoppolo’s departure. My sense is they’ve been easing him in, knowing the complexity of McVay’s system and how difficult it has proven to be for any rookie to get on the field early on, let alone a quarterback.

But perhaps no position relies more on the presence of live reps to develop than a quarterback does, so giving Simpson 25 attempts was a start at doing that for him — intentionally after weeks of mostly sitting and watching.

Simpson looked operational for the most part. He bobbled the first dropback snap of the game, but it was a high snap, and he recovered before dropping it and then fired the ball quickly out of bounds. That was a glimpse at pushing through a message the Rams have given him: Don’t try to be the hero.

Simpson did bobble another handoff to running back Jordan Waters near the red zone, which contributed to Waters running into the backs of some of his linemen.

But beyond that, it was hard to find any glaring mistakes in Simpson’s play. He was efficient in his footwork on rollouts and scrambles, and timely in his throws, which almost all came off predetermined reads. The Rams clearly wanted to get him into a rhythm as a passer on the move, and it worked, finishing with an 84 percent completion rate.

The Rams kept the training wheels on him for a majority of the start, with almost every throw going within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Simpson did get the chance to rip a few passes to the intermediate levels in the fourth quarter, which led to hitting sixth-round rookie receiver CJ Daniels for a 16-yard pass on a deeper dig concept.

Simpson didn’t get to flash anything that went beyond a starter-kit kind of game plan for a rookie quarterback. But they often say in this league that you can’t tell who can play in the NFL in the preseason, only who can’t. Simpson didn’t look like a guy who can’t play, and that was the goal.

As for Bennett, he saw just two series, which included a three-and-out to start. He finished 4-of-6 for 38 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and an 84.0 rating.

It’s hard to know what to make of this battle for the No. 2 quarterback job. It’s possible the Rams have seen enough from Bennett already, or that Simpson could emerge from his play in the preseason. It still feels rather unsettled and unproven.

Max Klare impresses, Keagen Trost suffers injury

The Rams naturally spread the ball around to plenty of different targets, but the most impressive of them was a second-round rookie who also hadn’t gotten a ton of practice reps until this game.

Klare saw eight targets on Saturday and caught all but one of them. The only one he didn’t was an end-zone fade route that Bennett underthrew, and Klare did a nice job positioning himself and fighting for the ball to keep it from becoming an interception. He caught everything else, which was a mix of screens and flare routes, work in the short range that let him catch and run with the ball. He finished with seven receptions for 37 yards.

It’s going to be hard for Klare to see much action this season with how deep the Rams’ tight end room is, even with a greater shift to three-tight end sets. Los Angeles likes to draft this position a year early, since the transition, mentally and physically, at this position and in this offense is so extreme. I’d view Klare as a backup to Terrance Ferguson’s flex role, but perhaps he could see a few designs like these if he’s active on game days.

One disappointing development for the rookie class came when Trost, the Rams’ third-round pick, had to leave in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Trost got the start at right tackle, where the Rams are training him to become Warren McClendon Jr.’s backup, with David Quessenberry focused on backing up Alaric Jackson on the left side.

It’s another potential hit to the Rams’ offensive line depth, with top backup guard Justin Dedich still having yet to suit up in camp after suffering a cut on his hand in early July.

Desjuan Johnson, Wesley Bailey flash

The Rams are so deep along the defensive line after the blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett that it’s easy to overlook some talented bodies they have fighting for back-end roster spots. But this game became a showcase for them. Edge rushers are among the better positions to evaluate in these vanilla settings because it’s still a matchup game for them, going one-on-one with opposing tackles, and Johnson and Bailey won in different ways that were impressive.

Johnson played on the edge in three-man fronts, a shift from how his career started as the final pick in the 2023 draft. He scored a sack when he burst off the line, slipped inside and around the tackle, and maintained good rush integrity to chase Garrett Nussmeier into raising the white flag.

Johnson has been working hard to slim down to try to add more versatility for a chance to crack this deep rotation. One of those workouts came early last week at the Rams’ facility with Aaron Donald, who continues to evaluate whether or not to return. Along with Braden Fiske, they ran ladder and cone drills to fine-tune their first-step explosion and side-to-side movement.

“Every workout that I have with him is a blessing and an opportunity to reach further heights,” said Johnson, who has five sacks in three seasons with the Rams. “Hard work pays off. Work in the dark and all of your hard work will come to light. Work when nobody sees you. Work when it’s hard. … Work while you can, because it’s not forever.”

Bailey continued to flash the body he’s shown in camp that looks too athletic to have gone undrafted out of Louisville this year. On one play, he held a stack position to force the quarterback to give up the ball to the running back up the middle on a zone read and dove forward to make the stop himself. He brought enough speed to the edges that he forced a false start later, as the backup tackles on the Chiefs saw a challenge in preparing for the attack.

[zn]

from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-preseason/146104/rams-chiefs-ty-simpson-winners-losers?utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=%3Cmedia_url%3E&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

…while things weren’t necessarily dynamic or amazing, Simpson checked every single box someone could realistically want from him. Mobility? We saw it and he made some impressive throws on the move. Accuracy? Check. Arm strength? On display. Poise? We saw a whole lot of it.

…

Dean Connors, RB

Much is made of Jarquez Hunter being LA’s fastest running back. Connors looked like he was moving at a completely different speed. The rookie UDFA ran six times for 22 yards (3.7 average) with a long of 11. He also caught all four of his targets for 29 yards and two touchdowns, including one on a screen play from Simpson.

It sure seems that Connors should be moved up the depth chart and competing with Hunter rather than being the last on the field.

***

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2026/08/15/rams-chiefs-best-players-preseason-ty-simpson/91322489007/?taid=6a810f581a40190001c5e387&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

S Nick Andersen

It was a whole bunch of unproven, undrafted players on defense for the Rams. They allowed zero touchdowns to the Chiefs, helped by two quality plays made by Andersen in coverage. He helped prevent a deep completion to Jason Brownlee down the field by diving to disrupt the receiver, also breaking up another pass later on near the right sideline.

He had eight tackles, three more than everyone else on the Rams, to go with two pass breakups and a TFL.

***

Note: old stuff from around draft time on Anderson:

1.

DB Nick Anderson, Wake Forest

It’s possible that Anderson ends up as a special teams contributor at some point. At Wake Forest, Anderson finished his career with 27 pass breakups, which was the most in program history. Last season, he led the team with 106 total tackles, seven pass breakups, and had a blocked kick.

2.

Safety Nick Anderson – Wake Forest 5’11” 195 lb.

Very versatile, ability to play as an overhang pseudo-linebacker, traditional underneath strong safety, deep in Cover2 and possibly single high. I say possibly, because although his instincts, read react skills, and ball tracking fit, it remains to be answered how his long speed will translate deep in the NFL. Doesn’t have elite twitch, but strong football IQ and play recognition help him to quick-trigger and play fast. While likely best suited for zone coverage, Anderson does have enough move skills and the requisite physicality to match tight ends 1on1. He times hits well in the secondary and is very physical at the catch point. Strong ball tracking and hawking. Good hands, eyes and the body control to snag awry passes. Stellar in run support. Solid tackler, generally breaks down and wraps up. Anticipates well and takes good angles in pursuit. Didn’t do a lot of blitzing, but appears to have the chops for it.

[zn]

[zn]

InvaderRam wrote:

besides simpson of course, i thought connors and klare looked good.

Yes, agreed.

And here’s another tweet.

ESPN Insights@ESPNInsights
Rams rookie Ty Simpson is the first player with 190 passing yards and 2 TD in their preseason debut since Baker Mayfield in 2018.🏈

[zn]

from Rams takeaways from preseason opener: Ty Simpson looks legit, OL goes down

Vincent Bonsignore

https://nypost.com/2026/08/15/sports/rams-takeaways-from-preseason-opener-ty-simpson-looks-legit/

KANSAS CITY – With arguably the deepest and most talented roster in the NFL, it’s no surprise the Rams enter the season as the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites.

There is, however, one question no one around the Rams wants to ask, much less contemplate:

What happens if Matthew Stafford goes down?

That uncomfortable scenario, and the Rams’ ability to survive it, provided an unavoidable subplot to Saturday’s 20-12 preseason win over the Chiefs.

With Stafford safely tucked away in Sean McVay’s customary preseason bubble wrap, the Rams got an extended look at the two quarterbacks who would be asked to keep their Super Bowl hopes afloat if disaster strikes: fourth-year prospect Stetson Bennett and rookie Ty Simpson.

First, relax. Stafford is fine.

For obvious reasons, the reigning NFL MVP is strictly off-limits during the preseason.

Bennett started Saturday and guided the Rams to a field goal during his two-series stint. Simpson took over with one play remaining in the first quarter and played all the way into the fourth quarter.

Neither offered indisputable evidence that the Rams could simply hand over the keys and keep humming if Stafford were lost for an extended period.

Then again, expecting either to do that would be wildly unfair.

Bennett, now in his fourth NFL season, has yet to suit up for a regular-season game, let alone throw a pass in one. He finished 4 of 6 for 38 yards.

Simpson? He’s three weeks into his first NFL training camp, and Saturday represented his first taste of NFL game action. No one should expect him to seamlessly step in for Stafford as a rookie. But for one afternoon, anyway, Simpson provided a tantalizing glimpse of why the Rams believe he can be their quarterback of the future.

Simpson was clearly more impressive of the two, but also the beneficiary of more playing time with the Chiefs digging much deeper into their depth chart during his stint.

Nevertheless, he looked solid while throwing for 190 yards on 21 of 25 passes and got better as the game went on. Never more so than when he guided the Rams’ seven-play, 87-yard touchdown drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown throw to Dean Connors on third down to put the Rams up 20-9.

On the drive, Simpson completed passes for 23, 22 and 13 yards.

He also guided the Rams on a second-quarter field goal drive and a short fourth-quarter touchdown drive that ended with his first NFL touchdown throw on a screen pass to Connors covering nine yards to put the Rams up 13-7.

Simpson was drafted to be the eventual heir apparent to Stafford. For now, the three years Bennett has played in the Rams system give him a leg up on the backup job.

However, if Simpson continues to play like he did Saturday, he might just make a run at QB2.

There isn’t a team in football that can seamlessly replace a franchise quarterback, especially one playing at Stafford’s level. The drop from QB1 to QB2 is steep almost everywhere.

But there are degrees to that pain.

And for a Rams team constructed to win a Super Bowl right now, figuring out whether Bennett or Simpson can at least keep the train on the tracks if Stafford misses time is one of the most important questions they need answered this preseason.

…

Impressive debut for rookie tight end

The Rams got an early glimpse Saturday of a connection they hope will become a fixture of their offense for years to come.

Simpson and fellow rookie Max Klare hooked up seven times against the Chiefs, offering a small preview of what the Rams envisioned when they invested premium draft capital in both players.

The Rams selected Klare in the second round out of Ohio State, a decision that — much like drafting Simpson 13th overall — initially raised a few eyebrows.

Not because Klare wasn’t worthy of the pick. He was widely regarded as one of the top tight ends in the draft and projects as a future impact starter.

It was the position that made the selection curious.

The Rams already entered the offseason loaded at tight end, making Klare feel more like a luxury than an immediate need.

But NFL depth charts have a funny way of changing in a hurry. Between injuries, free agency and the salary cap, today’s position of strength can become tomorrow’s glaring weakness.

That’s why smart teams draft ahead of need rather than wait for it to become one.

Klare may essentially redshirt this season, learning behind a crowded group while developing physically and within McVay’s offense. But Saturday offered a glimpse of why the Rams were willing to think beyond 2026 when they drafted him.

Klare kept getting open. Simpson kept finding him.

Seven times in all.

For one preseason afternoon, the Rams got a sneak preview of a quarterback-tight end combination they hope they’ll be watching long after the current depth chart looks completely different.

[zn]

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Asked Sean McVay postgame what he liked about the way Ty Simpson picked and chose his spots with pushing the ball downfield versus taking what the defense gave him.

“I thought he took what the defense gave him,” McVay said. “I thought he read the plays out, read with his feet. I thought he did a really good job overall, and I thought even on some of the keepers where maybe the primary isn’t there, he attacks with the ball up. Even on the first one that he had, where he ends up finding Max Klare on the late down flat, but hit a couple low crossing routes. And I thought he kept the ball in play. That’s the biggest thing is keeping the ball in play. There was one situation that he’ll have a great learning opp on a third down where they kind of played a man coverage and he ended up throwing it to the flat to Max Klare. I got to see — I think the pocket might have allowed him to be able to progress, but otherwise it was a really good day for him. He just felt like he was in good command, and it was cool to see a good smile on his face.”

[Zooey]

I saw only a bit of the game, from somewhere early 3rd quarter until about 4 minutes left when I apparently fell asleep.

Apart from seeing a lot of unfamiliar names on jerseys, I will say that Simpson looked pretty solid to me. I didn’t see panic or confusion. When he needed an extra beat to throw the ball, he took it, instead of rushing it. That can, of course, get a QB killed, but he seemed to fearlessly stand in there. Also, he showed mobility. He didn’t write himself into the record books, but he looked pretty good, and showed more zip on the ball than I expected. It’s only one preseason game, of course, but if you’re grooming a future QB, you would certainly hope they looked as good as Simpson did in his first ever outing.

[zn]

Zooey wrote:

he looked pretty good, and showed more zip on the ball than I expected.

Quick release. And, quick processing.

It’s like he’s a much more mobile version of Bulger, who also had a quick release, but also with Warner’s ability to process things fast.

[wv]

Well, the Oline injury was disappointing. That guy needed the reps and the Rams needed the depth, to state the obvious.

I hate preseason games. I hate their guts and livers.

w
v

[zn]

wv wrote:

Well, the Oline injury was disappointing. That guy needed the reps and the Rams needed the depth, to state the obvious.

I hate preseason games. I hate their guts and livers.

w
v

Here, WV, I’m moving a bit of yours about the game from the wrong thread to this one:

Klare had 7 catches on 8 targets, i see.

I watched some highlights. Didnt really notice any player standing out.

Ty managed the game well. Good job for a first game.

Though, I am not high on the Chiefs this year. I suspect their defense is gonna be pretty bad.

w
v

[zn]

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

he looked pretty good, and showed more zip on the ball than I expected.

Quick release. And, quick processing.

It’s like he’s a much more mobile version of Bulger, who also had a quick release, but also with Warner’s ability to process things fast.

I think Simpson surprised a lot of people. But it doesn’t mean he’s “there” yet obviously.

I think people were surprised by the combination of poise, mobility, and (as Zooey said) the zip on the ball.

Those were the traits he showed at Alabama. They translate to the pros. Or appear to so far.

Let’s look at the very first preseason games for Rams starters in the past.

Simpson, 2026, v. Kansas City: 21-25-190-2-0

Warner, 1999 v. Chicago: 9-17-139-0-0
Bulger, 2001 v. Buffalo: 10-15-112-0-0
Stafford, 2009 Lions v. Atlanta: 7-14-114-1-1
Bradford, 2010, v. Cleveland: 6-14-24-0-0
Goff, 2016, v. Dallas: 4-9-38-0-1

[zn]

from Rams PFF Grades: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/los-angeles-rams-preseason/146178/rams-chiefs-pff-grades-stetson-bennett?utm_campaign=dhtwitter&utm_content=%3Cmedia_url%3E&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Ty Simpson, QB: 78.1

Simpson took 25 of LA’s 31 total dropbacks. He played an immaculately clean game with an adjusted completion rate of 91.3%. There were a lot of short throws; however, Simpson got better as the game went on and the aggression and true drop backs (no play action) grew more frequent late.

Simpson finished with 21 completions on 25 passes (84.0%) for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Of all the 2026 rookie quarterbacks, Simpson currently ranks third in PFF grading behind Carson Beck (Cardinals) and Drew Allar (Steelers). He’s second behind Joe Fagnano (Ravens) in yards and tied for the lead in touchdowns.

Austin Blaske, LG: 80.9

Blaske earned his best grade in run blocking at 80.3. He also fared well in pass protection with a mark of 76.9. Blaske played all 54 offensive snaps at left guard. Not a bad day at the office for the rookie UDFA out of North Carolina. He’s someone to keep on eye on over the remaining two games.

[wv]

Some guy on the internet said, of the 47 completions in that game, only 3 were over 20 yards.

w
v

[zn]

wv wrote:

Some guy on the internet said, of the 47 completions in that game, only 3 were over 20 yards.

w
v

That’s true but it’s a little bit misleading.

During the game people noticed that for most of his time in there, basically Simpson was making safe, short throws. That included throwing too short on a key 3rd down (McVay even commented on that play after the game, citing it as an error to throw short in that situation).

In the final drive they did basically a 2 minute offense, with increased tempo and taking longer shots. There was only 1 play action. It was all passing, with Simpson in shotgun for all but 2 plays. In other words, they turned him loose on that drive. The drive went 87 yards for a TD in 8 plays. On that drive Simpson was 6 of 8 with 4 passes of 13+ yards (including a 22 and a 23). Though one of those was a short pass + RAC, but that wasn’t a 20 yarder.

Here’s the full play-by-play for that drive:

5-yd Penalty
9:56 – 4th
T.Simpson pass incomplete short right to M.Redman.PENALTY on KC-J.Canady, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at LA 13 – No Play.
1st & 10 at LAR 13

Incompletion
9:50 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass incomplete short right to C.Daniels.
1st & 10 at LAR 18

22-yd Pass
9:46 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass deep left to M.Redman to LA 40 for 22 yards (J.Canady).
2nd & 10 at LAR 18

13-yd Pass
9:23 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass short right to D.Connors pushed ob at KC 47 for 13 yards (K.Arnold).
1st & 10 at LAR 40

23-yd Pass
8:45 – 4th
T.Simpson pass deep right to B.Presley to KC 24 for 23 yards (K.Knowles).
1st & 10 at KC 47

16-yd Pass
8:02 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass short middle to C.Daniels to KC 8 for 16 yards (K.Arnold).
1st & 10 at KC 24

6-yd Pass
7:23 – 4th
T.Simpson pass short left to B.Presley to KC 2 for 6 yards (W.Bissainthe; D.Singleton).

Incompletion
6:40 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass incomplete short left to C.Daniels.
2nd & Goal at KC 2

2-yd Touchdown Pass
6:32 – 4th
(Shotgun) T.Simpson pass short left to D.Connors for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN

[zn]

zn wrote:

In the final drive they did basically a 2 minute offense, with increased tempo and taking longer shots. There was only 1 play action. It was all passing, with Simpson in shotgun for all but 2 plays. In other words, they turned him loose on that drive. The drive went 87 yards for a TD in 8 plays. On that drive Simpson was 6 of 8 with 4 passes of 13+ yards (including a 22 and a 23). Though one of those was a short pass + RAC, but that wasn’t a 20 yarder.

Here’s that entire drive.

Ty Simpson looked very comfortable on that TD drive pic.twitter.com/9fVITHNvCB

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) August 15, 2026

[wv]

I don’t have a single negative thing to say about Ty Simpson’s on-field-play, in that game. He did well in his first game. Seemed more prepared for a road, vanilla-NFL-pre-season game than i expected.

It ‘is’ jarring to watch any QB who isnt Matt Stafford, though. Its hard for me to watch it. I’ve gotten used to elite QB play.

My only complaint about Ty at this point is that, overall, he is not as good a WR as Makai Lemon.

If Stetson (or gawd-forbid, Ty Simpson) really ends up being the back-up on this all-in super-team, I am going to question McSnead’s sanity. In my opinion it will be one of the worst bonehead decisions in ram history.

w
v

[wv]

Oline/Dline play. Klare getting beat.

[InvaderRam]

max klare looked good. sticky hands.

scored 99.6 percentile in on field athleticism according to pff metrics but didn’t perform in combine or pro day testing. i know tight ends don’t traditionally play straight away in mcvay’s offense. i’ll be watching him the next two games though.

parkinson, higbee, allen, ferguson. but allen is injured and higbee is in the twilight of his career. no clear third wr.

.@m4klare with 7 (!) receptions in his NFL Preseason debut. 👏

📺 More highlights on https://t.co/d9sXTdTW10 pic.twitter.com/7TWmmXOuvk

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 16, 2026

[zn]

wv wrote:

My only complaint about Ty at this point is that, overall, he is not as good a WR as Makai Lemon

Ah, so, you are the board Lemonite.

Every board has one.

All I can tell you is, if you don’t have a Lemon, you don’t need no Lemon aid.

[wv]

zn wrote:

Ah, so, you are the board Lemonite.

Every board has one.

All I can tell you is, if you don’t have a Lemon, you don’t need no Lemon aid.

If our 38-year-old QB-with-a-bad-back goes down, I am going to throw a lemon-fit.

[Author]

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