OFFICIAL 2026 Training Camp Thread

[Soul Surfer]

Everyone's feelings aside, the objective data show that the guy was tied for 3rd in the league for passes defensed. He was going up against #1 and #2 WRs. Now, he's our 3rd CB.

I'll take it!

I remember when he was on that three or four game tear and he looked like a cross between Spider-Man and Superman. Leaping, fingertip saves, blanket coverage in man to man, etc.
That was actually to me, (to me) one of the best performances in a four game stretch by a Rams defensive back in a long time. Forbes as a number three seems like a plus luxury to me.

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://x.com/RamsNFL/status/2088407825060127088

 

[Merlin]

Yeah but maybe JG only wants to sign with certain teams. Didn't he pretty much get strong interest from the Cards to only turn them away. Also he's on the older side so Bennett is much younger than him. If Bennett balls out in the preseason, it wouldn't surprise me if some team offers a really low pick to get him. Low risk but we'll see. I personally hope we dupe some team but I highly doubt he'd warrant anything more than a 6th to 7th round pick. Snead loves them 6th rounders lol

I think both of you are reading this wrong. Nobody is interested in Jimmy G. Finding a QB who lives underneath is not difficult, they're in every draft. His experience is great and all but I think he benefitted more from SF than the other way around; they gave him consistently strong run game balance and defense.

His retirement thing was probably related to the Rams telling him they were replacing him with Bennett. And since that time the complete non-interest in him around the league is rather telling.

 

[Memphis Ram]

His retirement thing was probably related to the Rams telling him they were replacing him with Bennett. And since that time the complete non-interest in him around the league is rather telling.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay on Tuesday said the team has known backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement – "that's not necessarily new news to us," McVay said – but are not rushing the veteran passer to make a decision.
"We've had good dialogue (with Garoppolo and his representatives)," McVay said in a joint video conference with reporters alongside general manager Les Snead. "No timeline. Wanted to be able to give him his time. He knows that he's a really important part of what we want to do and part of those plans, and hopeful that the contemplation is that, and that when the time is right, he'll change his mind."
Garoppolo, 34, remains unsigned since becoming an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year on March 11.
McVay at the annual league meeting on March 30 said the team was hopeful for a reunion with Garoppolo, but also was interested in potentially signing Kirk Cousins to fill the backup role just in case; Cousins signed with the Raiders a little over one week later on April 6.

Jimmy Garoppolo contemplating retirement 'not necessarily new news' to Rams, who are giving quarterback plenty of time to make decision

Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead discuss the latest on backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who is weighing retirement.

www.therams.com

 

[Soul Surfer]

Even thinking about retirement, I think, gives you a mental disadvantage.
I want my Rams players to be fully engaged 100% mentally and physically if possible.

 

[Pupped]

Everyone's feelings aside, the objective data show that the guy was tied for 3rd in the league for passes defensed. He was going up against #1 and #2 WRs. Now, he's our 3rd CB.

I'll take it!

I'm excited to see him in this particular role... just playing in coverage.. he'll be excellent. The DBs, if they stay healthy, are going to be a great unit, imo. Underrated, in fact, imo.... despite the hype. And when you add the pass rush??? Wooooooooooo!

 

[Merlin]

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay on Tuesday said the team has known backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is considering retirement – "that's not necessarily new news to us," McVay said – but are not rushing the veteran passer to make a decision.
"We've had good dialogue (with Garoppolo and his representatives)," McVay said in a joint video conference with reporters alongside general manager Les Snead. "No timeline. Wanted to be able to give him his time. He knows that he's a really important part of what we want to do and part of those plans, and hopeful that the contemplation is that, and that when the time is right, he'll change his mind."
Garoppolo, 34, remains unsigned since becoming an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year on March 11.
McVay at the annual league meeting on March 30 said the team was hopeful for a reunion with Garoppolo, but also was interested in potentially signing Kirk Cousins to fill the backup role just in case; Cousins signed with the Raiders a little over one week later on April 6.

Jimmy Garoppolo contemplating retirement 'not necessarily new news' to Rams, who are giving quarterback plenty of time to make decision

Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead discuss the latest on backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who is weighing retirement.

www.therams.com

You quote that like it's a certainty. But the Rams don't do anything half ass.

So if they were surprised by JG wanting to retire, then I would expect they make a move to add a more proven vet to compete with Bennett. They didn't so much as try to do that though. They moved forward with Bennett without blinking.

This tells me they're impressed with the way he's been working and showing in house. And it probably goes back to last season as well. Which is why I figure there's a good chance they looked at JG's price tag and either told him they were out, or he got wind of that and knew it was coming. It's not like it's hard to read the room, when things shift and you know you're on the way out.

Also JG's retirement not lasting very long I think is a tell it might have been a decision made with a sense of disappointment.

Again just how I'm reading it. I could be way off who knows. Not like the Rams are trustworthy when it comes to saving players face in the media though. And I think the disinterest by the league at large speaks to this as well.

 

[Memphis Ram]

You quote that like it's a certainty. But the Rams don't do anything half ass.

So if they were surprised by JG wanting to retire, then I would expect they make a move to add a more proven vet to compete with Bennett. They didn't so much as try to do that though. They moved forward with Bennett without blinking.

This tells me they're impressed with the way he's been working and showing in house. And it probably goes back to last season as well. Which is why I figure there's a good chance they looked at JG's price tag and either told him they were out, or he got wind of that and knew it was coming. It's not like it's hard to read the room, when things shift and you know you're on the way out.

Also JG's retirement not lasting very long I think is a tell it might have been a decision made with a sense of disappointment.

Again just how I'm reading it. I could be way off who knows. Not like the Rams are trustworthy when it comes to saving players face in the media though. And I think the disinterest by the league at large speaks to this as well.

Well there appeared to be some interest in Kirk Cousins.

IMO, it's far more likely that what we've been told is the truth. The Rams wanted Garoppolo back, but he wasn't sure he wanted to play at the time. This makes sense given what was said to be how close he was to LaFleur and his turning down an opportunity to start in Arizona when free agency started.

What is viewed as so-called disinterest could simply be his waiting for the right opportunity after deciding to play at a time when most rosters were already filled for camp. It makes sense for him to wait for an injury/opportunity elsewhere and miss camp to boot. At least that's what I would do if I were in his shoes.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I think both of you are reading this wrong. Nobody is interested in Jimmy G. Finding a QB who lives underneath is not difficult, they're in every draft. His experience is great and all but I think he benefitted more from SF than the other way around; they gave him consistently strong run game balance and defense.

His retirement thing was probably related to the Rams telling him they were replacing him with Bennett. And since that time the complete non-interest in him around the league is rather telling.

I doubt his retirement has little to do with Bennett. McVay himself said the Rams were interested in bringing him back. I think the issue with JG is he wants more playing time, but probably isn't being that offered or guarantreed by any team.

 

[WestCoastRam]

So if they were surprised by JG wanting to retire, then I would expect they make a move to add a more proven vet to compete with Bennett. They didn't so much as try to do that though. They moved forward with Bennett without blinking.

This has been reported. They tried to get Kirk Cousins after Jimmy waffled.

 

[Merlin]

McVay himself said the Rams were interested in bringing him back.

McVay himself is often full of shite. This is why I try to read between the lines with what they do instead of what they say.

If they wanted Jimmy back he'd be back. Now if they wanted him back at what Bennett is making, which is proper peanuts level pay, then that would be another way to explain how things went down.

Either way I'm not wrapped around the axle on Garoppolo. And I'm tired of hearing fans act like he's some great option, as I don't think he's a great option. He's a vet option that I think they can do without.

Lastly the way Simpson played tonight the Rams may be rethinking things. Or maybe they've been rethinking them for a little while due to how he's been picking up the offense. Bennett wasn't bad, but he missed some throws that could have made everything a lot smoother early in the game. So now next game maybe they let the kid take the first half and then go Caldwell second half idk.

Bottom line I'm pretty happy with the QB room right now. Simpson looks like he's on sched. Hope it continues.

 

[Merlin]

I doubt his retirement has little to do with Bennett.

If you doubt his retirement has little to do with Bennett, this insinuates you agree with me.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

If you doubt his retirement has little to do with Bennett, this insinuates you agree with me.

No I do not agree with you at all

 

[El Chapo Jr]

McVay himself is often full of shite. This is why I try to read between the lines with what they do instead of what they say.

If they wanted Jimmy back he'd be back. Now if they wanted him back at what Bennett is making, which is proper peanuts level pay, then that would be another way to explain how things went down.

Either way I'm not wrapped around the axle on Garoppolo. And I'm tired of hearing fans act like he's some great option, as I don't think he's a great option. He's a vet option that I think they can do without.

Lastly the way Simpson played tonight the Rams may be rethinking things. Or maybe they've been rethinking them for a little while due to how he's been picking up the offense. Bennett wasn't bad, but he missed some throws that could have made everything a lot smoother early in the game. So now next game maybe they let the kid take the first half and then go Caldwell second half idk.

Bottom line I'm pretty happy with the QB room right now. Simpson looks like he's on sched. Hope it continues.

Simpson played very good but I'm not crowning anyone after 1 preseason game especially against scrubs. He's definitely moving in the right direction but he needs to eventually do that against teams that will game plan against his tendencies and actually play their starters. Once I see he can handle that after getting hit in the mouth only to still sling that thang again, then I'll be way more convinced. Great start for him as he can only execute against what's put in front of him. It'll be interesting to see if McVay gives him opportunities against better players in the other preseason games where starters actually play.

 

[PARAM]

This has been reported. They tried to get Kirk Cousins after Jimmy waffled.

It may be just what the Rams are saying. JG wanted to retire. Now he wants to wait for the best option. A camp injury would get him a decent offer.

He made 4.6 mil in 2024 and 4-5 mil in 2025 from the Rams. Some #2 QB salaries are Marcus M 1.3 mil/5 mil SB, Davis Mills 6 mil, Flacco 6 mil, Stiddam 5.9 mil, Minshew 5.75, Trubisky 4.8 mil and some of those guys carry an even bigger cap hit. Garoppolo is probably looking for 5 to 6 mil OR a chance to start due to an injury (if that's what he's waiting for).

The Rams wanted him. Or Cousins. I don't think the Rams lowballed JG. I doubt they tried to lowball Cousins (who is IMO, worth more than Garoppolo anyway). They're paying Bennett 1.145 (and the Vet min for Garoppolo would be 1.3 mil). He'd get 5 - 6 mil from the Rams more than likely. The Rams have about 15 mil in space.

 

[Spider2YB]

Simpson played very good but I'm not crowning anyone after 1 preseason game especially against scrubs. He's definitely moving in the right direction but he needs to eventually do that against teams that will game plan against his tendencies and actually play their starters. Once I see he can handle that after getting hit in the mouth only to still sling that thang again, then I'll be way more convinced. Great start for him as he can only execute against what's put in front of him. It'll be interesting to see if McVay gives him opportunities against better players in the other preseason games where starters actually play.

the tell will be reps in the Saints joint practice. If Stafford and Bennett get all the reps again, I think it’s a safe assumption Ty will be QB3 all year. If Simpson gets some reps and outplays Bennett, we’ll see.

I still think Jimmy G is still the likely scenario. That interview McVay did with Kay Adams earlier in the summer where he was expressing interest in Cousins and talking about how much he loved Jimmy stuck out to me. He said Jimmy thought he could still start in this league and was exploring those options before he considered “retirement”. I think if Bennett absolutely lit it up this preseason they’d have given him a shot, but so far that hasn’t happened.

 

[OldSchool]

You quote that like it's a certainty. But the Rams don't do anything half ass.

So if they were surprised by JG wanting to retire, then I would expect they make a move to add a more proven vet to compete with Bennett. They didn't so much as try to do that though. They moved forward with Bennett without blinking.

This tells me they're impressed with the way he's been working and showing in house. And it probably goes back to last season as well. Which is why I figure there's a good chance they looked at JG's price tag and either told him they were out, or he got wind of that and knew it was coming. It's not like it's hard to read the room, when things shift and you know you're on the way out.

Also JG's retirement not lasting very long I think is a tell it might have been a decision made with a sense of disappointment.

Again just how I'm reading it. I could be way off who knows. Not like the Rams are trustworthy when it comes to saving players face in the media though. And I think the disinterest by the league at large speaks to this as well.

That article was also from April. A lot could change either way in his Jimmy's opinion or desires.

 

[Merlin]

I still think Jimmy G is still the likely scenario. That interview McVay did with Kay Adams earlier in the summer where he was expressing interest in Cousins and talking about how much he loved Jimmy stuck out to me. He said Jimmy thought he could still start in this league and was exploring those options before he considered “retirement”. I think if Bennett absolutely lit it up this preseason they’d have given him a shot, but so far that hasn’t happened.

Jimmy G also hasn't happened. Not with any team in this league. Seems like a tell.

Also players have representatives who talk all the time with teams and know when the interest is hot or perhaps luke warm. And when a cheap backup QB gets passed on by the league that makes me think that interest was cold.

 

[Merlin]

The Rams wanted him. Or Cousins. I don't think the Rams lowballed JG. I doubt they tried to lowball Cousins (who is IMO, worth more than Garoppolo anyway). They're paying Bennett 1.145 (and the Vet min for Garoppolo would be 1.3 mil). He'd get 5 - 6 mil from the Rams more than likely. The Rams have about 15 mil in space.

Do you really think if McVay wanted Cousins he wouldn't show up the next flight? Seriously man. The dude is on record talking about him and their relationship and what he owes McVay. If he were to offer anything in the reasonable range to Cousins it's over. He'd be here.

Same with Jimmy. Looking at the lack of interest around this league you can see what Jimmy was being told some months back by his reps. Which is that there isn't a lot of interest in his services. That is a very likely reason why he chose retirement. Not because he somehow thought he is a starter in spite of the empirical evidence on the field and team indifference.

All this shit ends up being twisted to favor athlete egos. Teams show them that respect, and both sides playing nice keeps the nasty shit off the media radar. So you gotta look between the lines on this stuff I think.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Simpson played very good but I'm not crowning anyone after 1 preseason game especially against scrubs. He's definitely moving in the right direction but he needs to eventually do that against teams that will game plan against his tendencies and actually play their starters. Once I see he can handle that after getting hit in the mouth only to still sling that thang again, then I'll be way more convinced. Great start for him as he can only execute against what's put in front of him. It'll be interesting to see if McVay gives him opportunities against better players in the other preseason games where starters actually play.

Well, the alternative is he played like shit. Which would you prefer?

.