Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Ty Simpson delivered an efficient performance in his NFL preseason debut Saturday, becoming the first player since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to throw for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a preseason opener.
ESPN noted that accomplishment for the rookie quarterback.
Simpson completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Rams defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20-12 at Arrowhead Stadium. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft also avoided sacks entirely while distributing the ball to seven different receivers.
Both of Simpson’s touchdown passes went to running back Dean Connors in the fourth quarter, helping the Rams rally from a deficit. The former Alabama standout played the final three quarters after Stetson Bennett started and handled the first two series.
“I thought he took what the defense gave him,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I thought he read the plays out, read with his feet. I thought he did a really good job overall. … I thought he kept the ball in play. That’s the biggest thing, is keeping the ball in play.”
McVay also said Simpson showed “good command” of the offense during the outing.
Simpson, who was the second quarterback selected in the draft behind Fernando Mendoza, entered the game late in the first quarter and settled in quickly.
“I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever had coming into a game, but I also didn’t know what to expect,” Simpson said. “The guys did a great job. So happy for our team. And on to next week.”
After his first drive, Simpson said the experience felt “just like playing in the backyard.” He finished with an 84 percent completion rate and a 125.0 passer rating, marking one of the cleanest statistical lines among rookie quarterbacks in the opening week of preseason play.
The Rams selected Simpson out of Alabama in the first round despite the presence of veteran starter Matthew Stafford, the reigning MVP. Simpson started only 15 games in college, throwing for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in his sole season as the Crimson Tide’s primary signal-caller.
Bennett completed four of six passes for 36 yards in limited action. The Rams’ decision to give Simpson extensive playing time aligned with McVay’s approach of resting starters and key backups during the preseason.
Simpson’s numbers placed him among the more productive first-year passers early in the preseason schedule. He completed eight passes in the fourth quarter alone, including two gains of 20 yards or more, while navigating a Chiefs defense that featured mostly reserves after the opening period.
The historical comparison to Mayfield underscored the rarity of the feat. Mayfield, then with the Cleveland Browns, posted 212 yards and two touchdowns in his 2018 preseason debut against the New York Giants. No other player had matched the specific combination of 190 yards and two scores in a preseason first appearance until Simpson’s outing.
Simpson’s accuracy and decision-making stood out against a vanilla defensive scheme. He scrambled effectively on one third-down play late in the third quarter, completing a short throw to Connors after avoiding a diving defender.
The performance offered an early look at the player the Rams hope will eventually succeed Stafford. Simpson signed a four-year, fully guaranteed rookie contract worth approximately $25.4 million in late July.
Rams offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase called a simplified game plan that emphasized play-action and rollouts, allowing Simpson to operate within structure. The rookie responded by sustaining drives and avoiding turnovers that often plague first NFL appearances.
Simpson will likely see more action in the Rams’ next preseason game. For one afternoon in Kansas City, the first-round pick provided a polished introduction to professional football that matched the statistical standard last set eight years earlier.
