Who Should I Start? Stetson Bennett IV or Graham Mertz

Saturday, August 16, 11:34 PM

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett IV completed 28 of his 40 pass attempts for 324 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during Saturday's preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also took a sack and rushed for four yards. Bennett led four successful scoring drives, including a game-winning touchdown drive that put the Rams ahead with just 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He has played the entirety of the Rams' first two preseason games, totaling five touchdowns and just one interception. He has a firm grasp on the third-string quarterback role behind Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo, and given that both of those players are older veterans who could be near the ends of their careers, Bennett's strong preseason could bode well as he auditions for a larger role in the future.

Monday, August 25, 6:32 AM

Houston Texans quarterback Graham Mertz got the start in the team's preseason finale in Detroit on Sunday, and the sixth-round rookie had a very strong showing while leading his team to a 26-7 win over the Lions. With starter C.J. Stroud and primary backup Davis Mills getting the day off, Mertz completed 14 of his 16 pass attempts for an efficient 145 passing yards. He threw a touchdown to Quintez Cephus and led three scoring drives before halftime. He also added 20 rushing yards on two carries. Mertz played ahead of Kedon Slovis, who was on the Texans' practice squad last year and took over for the second half of Saturday's win. Mertz likely secured the third spot on the quarterback depth chart with his strong showing, while Slovis could be headed back to the practice squad.