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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett has returned to the team after taking a year off and Wednesday he is adjusting to his role, teammates and coaches.
Bennett, a fourth-round draft pick by the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft, spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list. When asked if the reason for spending a year away from football and the NFL fell under the umbrella of mental heath, Bennett said, "I'd say that."
"I'm doing the best i can every day to get better," Bennett said Tuesday from spring practice at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. It was the first time Bennett has talked to the media since being placed on the reserve list after Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season.
Matthew Stafford is the starting quarterback for the Rams. Jimmy Garoppolo was signed a free agent to back up Stafford. But Garoppolo will miss the first two games of the regular season serving a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
That gives Bennett a chance to be the Rams back-up quarterback for the early part of the season.
"He put his best foot forward every single day," Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. "It's been a pleasure working with him."
Coach Sean McVay has said to reporters, in regard to Bennett taking time away from football, that some things are bigger and more important than football.
General manager Les Snead has said Bennett, who played football at the University of Georgia and was drafted after the team won a national championship, its second in a row, was exhausted from a stressful college career.
"I know this: Last year was very beneficial for him. I think he took advantage of that year away from the game," Snead told Rams Wire. "You know what, he's an exhausted human being based on everything he had done to walk on, to go to JUCO, to come back, to turn down small schools, say `I'm going to try to do this Georgia thing.' To win a job, then to win the thing, and then to determine, `I'm going to come back.' And when you come back, it's really win it again or you failed. And that does take a toll on a human being, so I was jacked for Stetson to be able to take that moment and breathe a little bit."
Bennett said his time away from football and the NFL was good.
"I went home and thank goodness Les and Coach McVay and everybody involved all allowed me to do that," the 26-year-old Bennett said.
LaFleur said Bennett is in a good place on the football field and with the team.
"I think he's done a great job just being a sponge," LaFleur said. "He's come to work every day focused with the intent to get better. That's all you can ask."
Bennett said he was nervous the first day he returned to the team and it took some time to find his comfort zone again.
"I haven't played football in a while," he said. "Lot of nerves the first day. But it's gone -- I wouldn't say seamlessly -- but it's better each day."