Sean McVay looking on (left). Stetson Bennett looking on (right).
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has broken his silence on Stetson Bennett’s mysterious absence from the team.

Last year, the Rams selected Bennett in the fourth round with the No. 128 pick. On Sept. 13, Bennett was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list and was never activated again during his rookie season.

Per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times, McVay briefly sounded off on Bennett’s absence during a conference with reporters. McVay didn’t offer any specifics on the situation, only stating they’ll talk to him when the time is right.

“And you figure out, ‘All right, where are you at?’ And is this something we feel like is best for him and our football team to bring him back into this ecosystem,” McVay said.

Neither Bennett nor the Rams have given any specifics on the circumstances regarding his absence. In an end-of-season presser with reporters last month, McVay refused to give a clear answer on if Bennett would return to the team next year.

Bennett led the Georgia Bulldogs to consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022 before turning professional. The Rams clearly drafted Bennett with the idea that he could potentially succeed an ageing and injury-prone Matthew Stafford at quarterback, but that might not be in the cards anymore.

The Rams finished 10-7 and locked down their third playoff appearance in four years, losing in the Wild Card Round to Stafford’s old team in the Detroit Lions.