KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ty Simpson’s NFL debut could not have gone much better.

Going into Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback had said he did not expect to be perfect. The goal, he said, was to learn from mistakes and not repeat them.

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Simpson, the 13th pick in the NFL draft, made no major errors, passed for two touchdowns and completed 21 of 25 attempts for 190 yards in a 20-12 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

Simpson did not start, but he played with confidence and poise while leading three scoring drives, including two for touchdowns in the second half.

It was a much-awaited first game for Simpson after the Rams shocked fans and much of the NFL by picking him so high in the draft after he started only 15 games for Alabama.

On Saturday, Simpson watched Stetson Bennett play the first two series before coming on with 11 seconds left in the first quarter and the Rams at their own 10-yard line.

Simpson connected with rookie tight end Max Klare on his first pass, but he bobbled a high snap on the next play and a hurried pass fell incomplete.

But Simpson got into rhythm on the next series as offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase stuck with calls for play-action and rollouts that resulted in mostly wide-open targets.

Simpson found tight end Mark Redman for 23 yards and then completed consecutive passes to receivers Tyler Scott and Xavier Smith. A third-and-6 pass to rookie CJ Daniels netted only two yards and the Rams settled for a field goal.

Simpson got in another series with 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter. He completed four passes in a row to move the Rams from their 31-yard line to the Chiefs’ 42. But he was hit while releasing a Hail Mary attempt that wobbled incomplete.

Early in the fourth quarter, Smith returned a punt 40 yards to the Chiefs’ 23. Four plays later, Simpson tossed a short pass to Dean Connors, who ran into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown and a 13-9 lead.

Simpson and Connors connected for another short touchdown pass to cap an eight-play, 87-yard drive that featured five consecutive completions that moved the ball to the two.

Other takeaways from the Rams’ preseason victory:

Bennett steady in start: Bennett entered as the frontrunner to back up starter Matthew Stafford, so it appeared coach Sean McVay planned to play him only a few series.

Bennett, a fourth-year pro making his seventh preseason start, completed four of six passes for 38 yards and led a field-goal drive before giving way to Simpson.

After working with the first- and second-team offenses during training camp, Bennett appeared confident directing a unit that mostly included third-string players.

Bennett’s first pass was broken up by the Chiefs, but he completed four passes during a 13-play, 73-yard field-goal drive that stalled at the six-yard line after the Chiefs broke up his third-down pass to Klare in the end zone.

Offensive lineman Keagen Trost injured: If the Super Bowl-favorite Rams have a potential weakness, it’s offensive line depth.

They selected former Missouri standout Keagen Trost in the third round with the hope that he could provide versatility. And with left tackle Alaric Jackson possibly facing a suspension if the NFL determines that he violated the league’s personal conduct policy, Trost could be counted on immediately.

Trost started at right tackle, but he left after two series because of a hamstring injury.

Tight end Max Klare the go-to receiver: Klare, a second-round draft pick from Ohio State, was targeted eight times, and caught seven passes for 37 yards.

Klare is part of a loaded position group that includes veterans Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and second-year pro Terrance Ferguson.

But Klare showed skills that could help the Rams this season and beyond.

Receiver CJ Daniels, who made multiple plays during training camp, caught two passes for 18 yards.

Defense holds Chiefs to field goals: Outside linebacker Desjuan Johnson, a rotational player last season, was the most notable member of a defense that played a few series against quarterback Justin Fields and the rest of the game against Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun.

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Johnson sacked Nussmeier in the third quarter. Rookie lineman Tim Keenan also had a sack.

Safety Nick Andersen had a team-best nine tackles for the Rams.

Harrison Mevis picks up where he left off: In his first game under new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, Mevis kicked field goals of 25 and 40 yards.

Ethan Evans averaged nearly 61 yards for four punts. Smith returned three punts for 52 yards.

Josh Allen, Bills open up Highmark Stadium in style

(FLM) — Josh Allen passed for 111 yards and one touchdown and the Buffalo Bills opened Highmark Stadium with a 29-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers in a preseason game at Orchard Park, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon.

Allen tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman in the first quarter and completed 6 of 8 passes in the club’s preseason opener. It also was Buffalo’s first game since Sean McDermott was fired as coach and replaced by Joe Brady.

The new stadium is located right next to where the former one resided, and the Bills made themselves comfortable as Ian Wheeler and Frank Gore Jr. scored on fourth-quarter runs to boost Buffalo’s lead to 29-7.

Bryce Young played sparingly for the Panthers (1-1) and was 3-of-5 passing for 18 yards. Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask threw touchdown passes and Trask also was picked off once.

Bears 34,
Browns 10

Case Keenum completed 9 of 10 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help Chicago roll past visiting Cleveland in the preseason opener for both teams.

Bears starting quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t play and Tyson Bagent (169 yards) and Keenum helped Chicago recover from an early 10-0 deficit. Jamree Kromah had two sacks and a fumble recovery for the Bears.

Deshaun Watson, who missed all of last season due to an Achilles injury, completed 11 of 15 passes for 126 yards and guided Cleveland to all of its points in the first half. Watson is competing for the starting job with Shedeur Sanders, who completed 6 of 11 passes for 79 yards and one interception.

Jaguars 24,
Saints 20

J’Mari Taylor scored on a 2-yard rush with 4:55 remaining as Jacksonville rallied for a 24-20 victory over host New Orleans in both teams’ preseason opener.

The Jaguars trailed 20-6 at halftime but cut the gap to 20-14 on a Hunter Long touchdown catch from Carter Bradley and a successful 2-point conversion in the third quarter. They added a Cam Little 36-yard field goal in the fourth before the 5-play, 57-yard game-winning drive.

Taylor carried the ball 22 times for 78 yards, while Bradley went 10-for-17 for 105 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Veteran quarterback Zach Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown pass to Oscar Delp. Audric Estime scored the game’s first touchdown and ran for 28 yards on five carries.

Cards RB Jeremiyah Love (ankle) out
at least one week

Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will be out at least one week with an ankle injury, head coach Mike LaFleur said on Saturday.

Per LaFleur, Love was a “little more sore” than expected after Arizona’s 27-14 preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The coach initially told reporters after the game that Love could’ve gone back into the contest if needed. Love turned 11 carries into 58 yards during the game.

Also on Saturday, LaFleur said rookie guard Chase Bisontis will head to injured reserve. Bisontis tore his MCL after Raiders defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland fell on his left knee on Thursday.

“He’ll be out for a good amount of time, if not the whole year,” LaFleur said. “(Stinks) for him. Always think about the player first. (Stinks) for the Cardinals, too. He’s a good player but more importantly you hate it for the player.”

Love, the third overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame, will sit out next Saturday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Love, 21, was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season at Notre Dame, finishing third behind Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. He won the Doak Walker Award as the top running back in college football.

He racked up 199 carries for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, as well as 27 receptions for 280 yards and three TDs in 2025. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry and his 21 total touchdowns broke the Fighting Irish’s single-season record set by Jerome Bettis (20) in 1991.

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