Former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett makes Rams return for offseason workouts after mysteriously missing his first NFL season for ‘undisclosed reasons’ when LA placed him on non-football injury list before 2023 opener

Quarterback Stetson Bennett rejoined the Los Angeles Rams for the start of their offseason program after missing his entire rookie season for undisclosed reasons.

Bennett, 26, attends team meetings and lifts weights with his teammates at the Rams’ training complex, coach Sean McVay confirmed Tuesday. The team has not yet started training on the field.

“He looks good,” McVay said of Bennett. ‘He’s got a good look in his eyes. He has been attentive in meetings.’

The Rams drafted the two-time national championship-winning Georgia quarterback in the fourth round a year ago. But, ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft in April, Bennett was arrested in Dallas, Texas, on public intoxication charges in January after reportedly knocking on doors in a residential area at 6 a.m. CT.

An incident report said police saw Bennett “walking further back into the enclosed area to hide behind a brick wall next to a random (apartment) in an attempt to possibly avoid detection (by arresting officers). .’

He was eventually taken to a city detention center, despite stating to officers that he was trying to wake up a friend.

Reflecting on his arrest at the 2023 NFL Combine in March, Bennett explained that the incident was not an action befitting his position or name.

You know, it was a mistake that everyone is aware of. “I understand why that can’t happen, I talked to the coaches about it, I talked to the general managers, I apologized to my family,” he said at the time. ‘That’s how I feel worse, I felt like I had them down because it doesn’t matter to Wherever I go now and even without all this, I have an obligation, I’m the fourth, I can’t do that if your last name is Bennett.

Bennett, the grandson of former South Carolina quarterback Buddy Bennett, participated in the Rams’ offseason program and played extensively in the preseason last year, but was placed on the reserve/non-team-related illness list. football five days before Los Angeles’ regular-season opener. .

He was expected to be Matthew Stafford’s backup as a rookie, but did not return to the team in 2023. The Rams never announced the reason for Bennett’s absence.

The Rams signed Jimmy Garoppolo last month to back up Stafford in 2024, but Bennett took additional steps toward a return when he met with Dave Ragone, Los Angeles’ new QB coach.

If Bennett is ready to resume his pro career, he could discourage the Rams from selecting a QB with a high pick in the draft this week.