Former Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the 128th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, however, he spent his rookie year away from the team for unknown reasons. That is, the 26-year-old has just come out and confirmed that his absence was related to mental health issues.
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"I was home. As far as what led to that, what transpired and all that, I think we're going to keep that in house," Bennett said. "But it was good. I went back home, and thank goodness that Les [Snead] and coach [Sean] McVay and everybody involved allowed me to do that."
Bennett will look to turn over a new leaf, as he was dealing with some off-the field trouble ever since he finished his six-year collegiate career with two consecutive championships (2021+2022). That is to say, before the 2x NCAA champion was drafted, he was in the news following a public intoxication arrest.
After being placed on the team's non-injured reserve list, and being away from the team for so long, a reporter asked if it was for mental health reasons, which Bennett simply responded, "Yeah I'd say that."
Bennett will be competing for the backup QB position on the Rams, behind Matthew Stafford. As of now, he is in competition with Jimmy Garoppolo, in which they are both No. 2 and No. 3 on the depth chart. With that in mind, Bennett will at least be the second-stringer for the first two games of the season, as Garoppolo, 32-years-old, is suspended for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.
Rams GM Les Snead commented on the QB's return during an interview with News 19 WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama.
"I know this, last year was very beneficial for him. I think he took advantage of that year away from the game. You know what, he's an exhausted human being based on everything he had done. The responsibility of the QB, and in our sake, we saw what taking a break, giving some guys a break from the game to get refreshed, I call it, to get bored and fall back in love with the game you grew up playing in the backyard."
