Sports
Rams coach Sean McVay hoping to get 'clarity' on Stetson Bennett's status
The Rams were confident that they found star quarterback Matthew Stafford’s backup — and possible successor — when they selected Stetson Bennett in the fourth round of last year’s NFL draft,
It did not play out as planned.
Bennett, who led Georgia to two consecutive national titles, was placed on the nonfootball injury/illness list for an undisclosed issue after the preseason and has not been a part of the team since.
Brett Rypien was released at midseason after proving not to be the answer as Stafford’s backup, and Carson Wentz is a pending unrestricted free agent.
That leaves Stafford, 36, as the only quarterback on the roster.
Whether Bennett will return to the Rams remains an open question.
Coach Sean McVay said Thursday that the Rams would “connect” with Bennett “at the appropriate time” to determine his status.
“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 during a videoconference with reporters.
“Those will be conversations that we will have. And then I think once we have a better idea of what we’ll do with that, then that will give clarity.”
Bennett’s situation is only one of many that McVay, general manager Les Snead and college and pro scouts will evaluate as they turn their attention to free agency and the draft.
The Rams are coming off a 10-7 season and a playoff appearance. So expectations for next season will be greater than last year, when the Rams pulled back in spending and relied on young, unproven players.
The NFL salary cap has not been set, but it is expected to rise from last year’s $224.8 million, and the Rams are expected to have at least $33 million in cap space.
Rams coach Sean McVay watches players warm up before a game in December 2022.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
The Rams also hold the No. 19 pick in the draft. But when asked about the chance to possibly pick in the first round for the first time since he became the coach in 2017, McVay quipped, “Oh, that’s a big if,” perhaps foreshadowing the Rams’ intent to trade back and extend to eight years their streak of not making a first-round pick.
As has been their custom the last few years, McVay and Snead will be absent from next week’s NFL scouting combine. They will remain in Southern California as coaches and scouts continue to evaluate pending free agents and potential trade acquisitions and draft prospects’ video from the combine.
The Rams’ biggest offseason move so far has been McVay’s promotion of Chris Shula to defensive coordinator. Shula worked under former coordinators Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris before becoming the first assistant promoted to the job.
“We’ve been close for a long time,” said McVay, whose relationship with Shula dates to their time as teammates at Miami-Ohio. “But he’s always been so steady … He’s got a great vision of what he wants it to look like, he’s got great organizational skills, great ability to be able to collaborate.”
Shula, the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, is the most recognizable assistant on the staff. John Streicher, game management coordinator, is probably the most obscure. But McVay said the former Tennessee Titans assistant would be an important addition.
“Because of where the landscape of the league is going and because if you’re just being honest, I can improve in that area for our football team,” McVay said.
The Rams began remaking their roster Wednesday when they released veteran center Brian Allen. Coleman Shelton, who displaced the oft-injured Allen as the starter, could void the final year of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.
“We would really like to get him back,” McVay said of Shelton, adding, “We’re proactively trying to be able to get that taken care of.”
Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom’s contract is another situation the Rams might address.
Noteboom, 28, is due to earn $10 million in salary and carry a cap number of $20 million, according to Overthecap.com. Noteboom has been valuable as a reserve who has started at both tackle spots and also at guard.
But a player once projected to be Andrew Whitworth’s successor at left tackle appears a likely candidate for a restructure to remain with the Rams.
Asked if Noteboom would return, McVay complimented Noteboom for his versatility, toughness and contributions and said the Rams were “working through all those things” as it relates to Noteboom’s situation.
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Folarin Balogun’s teammates came to his defense after the USA World Cup star was given a red card during the team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun received the red card after he stepped on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus only gave Balogun the card after a VAR review. The red card meant Balogun will not be able to play in the team’s Round of 16 match against Belgium.
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United States’ Folarin Balogun, right, stands by after being issued a red card by Referee Raphael Claus, of Brazil, as United States’ Weston McKennie (8) looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A FIFA official told The Athletic a team cannot appeal against the red card or the suspension. The official pointed the outlet to a portion of the organization’s rules and regulations, which states, “A sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures.”
Balogun’s teammate, Weston McKennie, called the lack of an appeal process “bogus” and disagreed with the referee’s decision to issue the red card.
Bosnia’s Sead Kolasinac (5) talks to United States’ Folarin Balogun after Balogun was sent off, as Christian Pulisic (10) watches during the World Cup round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Julio Cortez / AP)
“Obviously the ref made a decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Balogun’s act “was never intentional.”
“It’s never a red card. Never. … If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land,” he said.
Balogun is the third player to score in a World Cup knockout match and be sent off. He follows Brazil’s Ronaldinho in 2002’s quarterfinal match against England and France’s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.
Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States’ Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
It’s the fifth red card handed to an American in the squad’s World Cup history.
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Eric Wynalda received one against Czechoslovakia in 1990, Fernando Clavijo got one against Brazil in 1994 and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope each received one against Italy in 2006.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week.
First-round draft pick Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero highlight the Lakers summer league roster that was announced Wednesday. The 16-man team will be coached by Lakers assistant coach Ty Abbott and begin summer league play Friday against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
The Lakers also face the Miami Heat (July 5, 1:30 p.m.) and San Antonio Spurs (July 6, 4:30 p.m.) in the California Classic before playing in the Las Vegas summer league from July 9-19. The Lakers play Oklahoma City (July 10), Dallas (July 11), the Clippers (July 14) and Chicago (July 16) in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
The Lakers traded up in the draft to get Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Baylor, with the 24th overall pick. He will make his unofficial NBA debut, along with former Indiana State and Saint Louis star Robbie Avila. The 6-10 center became a bespectacled college basketball cult hero known affectionately as “Cream Abdul Jabbar” while leading Indiana State to the NIT championship game in 2024. He transferred to Saint Louis, where he was named Atlantic-10 player of the year as a senior when the Billikens won a school-record 29 wins.
Although he is entering his second season with the Lakers, Thiero will be playing his first summer league games. Persistent knee injuries hampered his rookie season. The athletic 6-7 forward averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 25 appearances last season. He said after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs that he wanted to improve on his three-point shooting during his second year. He attempted only five three-pointers during his rookie season, regular season and playoffs, making one.
Lakers summer league roster
Robbie Avila, C, 6-10, 240
Cameron Carr, G, 6-5, 190
Jon Elmore, G, 6-3, 190
Luke Goode, F, 6-7, 210
William Hickey, G, 6-4, 203
Arthur Kaluma, F, 6-7, 225
William Kyle III, C, 6-9, 230
Chris Mañon, G, 6-4, 212
Robert McCray V, G, 6-4, 188
AK Okereke, F, 6-7, 245
Chase Ross, G, 6-5, 210
Zhaire Smith, G, 6-4, 205
Peter Suder, G, 6-5, 215
Adou Thiero, F, 6-7, 234
Anton Watson, F, 6-8, 225
Jacari White, G, 6-3, 180
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U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of their Round of 32 World Cup matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun was making a challenge on a ball when he stepped on an opposing player’s leg.
The U.S. men’s national team is down to 10 players for the rest of the match. If the U.S. holds their 1-0 lead, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 game.
Balogun scored for the U.S. in the first half.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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