Stetson Bennett and the Los Angeles Rams are not piling up points this preseason but the former Georgia quarterback is piling up wins. Just like he did with the Bulldogs.
Bennett, battling for a backup job with the Rams behind another former UGA player Matthew Stafford, has started the team’s first two exhibition games. After leading L.A. to a 13-12 win over the Cowboys in the opener, Bennett was the only quarterback to play for the Rams again Saturday and led them to a 13-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
So that’s just 26 points but two wins for Bennett and the Rams.
Bennett’s former Georgia teammate, receiver Ladd McConkey, played for the Chargers.
Bennett completed 17 of 31 passes for 231 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble. McConkey played less but had a reception for five yards. The two met on the field after the game.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, center, talks to his former Georgia Bulldogs teammate Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers after a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Bennett passed for 213 yards and the Rams won 13-9.(AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
1 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey runs with the ball as Los Angeles Rams safety Russ Yeast pulls his jersey during an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Photographer: Kyusung Gong
2 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
3 of 24
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JJ Laap, left, makes a touchdown catch from quarterback Stetson Bennett during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
4 of 24
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JJ Laap (81) celebrates after his touchdown reception during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
5 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) makes a catch past a Los Angeles Rams defender during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
6 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, left, talks to Los Angeles Chargers safety Jaylen McCollough (39) after a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
7 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett fumbles as he tackled by two Los Angeles Chargers defenders during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chargers recovered the ball on the play. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
8 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett prepares to take a snap during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
9 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
10 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sideline during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
11 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
12 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett takes a snap during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
13 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) runs with the ball past Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Chris Collins (53) during an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Photographer: Kyusung Gong
14 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
15 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett takes a snap during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
16 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
17 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photographer: Gregory Bull
18 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett rolls out during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
19 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh watches his players during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Photographer: Kyusung Gong
20 of 24
Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans (21) carries during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
21 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Chris Collins (53) pressures Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
22 of 24
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett, left, runs past Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Chris Collins (53) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
23 of 24
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks to quarterback Easton Stick (2) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Photographer: Jayne Kamin-Oncea
24 of 24
Bennett was 24 for 38 for 224 yards in the first exhibition game against Dallas but also threw four interceptions. He threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Miller Forristall with four seconds remaining as the Rams rallied for the win.
“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,” Bennett said. “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 was a fourth-round draft pick by the Rams last year after leading Georgia to two straight national championships. He was not with Los Angeles during the regular season as he addressed his mental health.
Bennett has gone the distance at quarterback in both exhibition games with Stafford and backup Jimmy Garoppolo on the sideline.
Bennett connected with JJ Laap on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter Saturday. The undrafted rookie wide receiver beat Chargers cornerback Zamari Walton on a go route down the middle with 9:48 remaining.
“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,” Bennett said.
The touchdown made up for the previous two Rams drives, when Bennett threw an interception to Deane Leonard deep in the end zone on fourth-and-goal at the 1 and Joshua Karty was wide right on a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Karty did have a pair of field goals for the Rams (2-0).
Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals for coach Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers (0-2).
Rams defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant handled the head coaching duties while Sean McVay observed from the coaching booth.
McVay wanted Pleasant to get experience of meeting with the officials, handling game-related situations such as calling timeouts and having to communicate with offense, defense and special teams.
Brock Bowers helped lead Georgia football to two national championships, and now he is being tasked with helping to change the culture of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Matthew Stafford is playing arguably the best football of his career, putting up NFL MVP numbers while leading the Los Angeles Rams to a banner season.
George Pickens and Brock Bowers, two of the most exciting and physical pass catchers in Georgia football history were on display for Monday Night Football.
Twelve former Georgia football teammates were reunited for a Monday Night Football game in Green Bay, serving up a reminder of the Bulldogs most glorious years.
