Stetson Bennett rallies Rams to 23-22 preseason win over Chargers, overcoming D-line interception
Bennett passed for 324 yards and three scores in his second straight sharp preseason performance — even if he failed to anticipate the ball-hawking skill and silky lateral movement of the hulking Edwards, who never had an interception in five seasons split between Northwestern and Illinois.
The rookie picked off Bennett's throw, thundered downfield and even threw a head fake before plowing over Bennett and finally tripping at midfield to end his 29-yard return with 6:35 to play, setting off an unsurprisingly unhinged celebration on the Bolts' sideline.
But Bennett shook it off with the poise of a two-time national champion and drove the Rams (2-0) downfield in the final seconds. Brennan Presley made an acrobatic 40-yard catch between two defenders with 11 seconds to play, setting up Edwards' winning catch on the next play.
Justin Herbert went 2 of 5 for 46 yards while playing the opening series in his first-ever preseason game for the Chargers (2-1), who were the visiting team at the clubs' shared stadium.
Luke Grimm returned a punt 66 yards for the Bolts' go-ahead touchdown with 12:36 left.
Trey Lance passed for 121 yards, and second-round pick Tre Harris had six catches for 85 yards.
Herbert never played in an exhibition game before his first five NFL seasons, but the Chargers' $262.5-million quarterback asked for some limited action in this outing to get some work with the Bolts' revamped offense, which is now missing starting left tackle Rashawn Slater.
Herbert's only series was interrupted when receiver Quentin Johnston went down hard and left the field on a cart. Herbert also took a sack two plays before the Chargers kicked a field goal.
Raheim Sanders rushed for a 1-yard TD in the third quarter set up by Lance's exceptional 34-yard completion to Harris.
Bennett hit Mario Williams for a 38-yard touchdown on the final play of the third, putting an exceptional downfield throw directly in the hands of the former USC receiver. The two-time national champion quarterback at the University of Georgia also threw a 2-yard TD pass to rookie Konata Mumpfield in the first half.
Grimm, an undrafted rookie receiver who only returned five punts in five seasons at Kansas, broke through the Rams' coverage unit and got down the Chargers' sideline for a score.
Aubrey Pleasant served as the Rams' head coach for the game, with Sean McVay handing the reins to his assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.
Up next
The Chargers finish the preseason in Santa Clara against the 49ers on Aug. 23.
The Rams travel nearly 2,400 miles to face the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 23.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kelsey Mitchell stats today: Star guard's career day leads shorthanded Fever to 21-point comeback vs. Sun
Kelsey Mitchell stats today: Star guard's career day leads shorthanded Fever to 21-point comeback vs. Sun originally appeared on The Sporting News The Fever needed someone to step up on Sunday against the Sun, and that's exactly what Kelsey Mitchell did. The veteran guard led Indiana to a fierce comeback in Connecticut as the team dealt with more adversity. The Fever saw Sophie Cunningham go down with an injury while the Sun took a 19-point lead into halftime, but Mitchell helped lead a second-half comeback to force overtime and eventually win, 99-93. Indiana was already missing Caitlin Clark for the game before Cunningham went down, making Mitchell's performance even more impressive. In the end, Mitchell produced a career high output to help pull off the victory. Here's a look at Mitchell's performance. 📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Kelsey Mitchell stats vs. Sun Minutes: 40 Points: 38 Rebounds: 1 Assists: 6 Steals: 2 Turnovers: 3 FGM/FGA: 11/22 FTM/FTA: 11/12 3PM/3PA: 5/8 Mitchell had just four points in the first half, meaning she totaled 34 points in the second half and overtime to help execute the comeback. The 38 points ties her career-best mark as Indiana needed every single point to win this game. MORE: How long is Sophie Cunningham out? Kelsey Mitchell highlights vs. Sun Scoring 38 points, it's probably no surprise that there were plenty of highlights from Mitchell's performance. MORE:Sue Bird honored by Storm with first ever WNBA statue Indiana Fever injuries The Fever have been dealing with a variety of injuries of late, making Mitchell's performance more important. Among those injuries are Caitlin Clark's groin injury that has sidelined her since the middle of July, Sydney Colson's torn ACL and Aari MacDonald's broken right foot. Then, on Sunday, Sophie Cunningham went down with a knee injury as the Fever ruled her out immediately. Therefore, Mitchell stepped up as one of the core healthy players on the court. MORE:Breaking down the tallest players in WNBA history
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Interview: Alperen Sengun on his offseason and the 2025-26 Rockets
In a Turkish interview published Sunday, reporters with Socrates Dergi spoke with Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 competition. Now 23 years old, Sengun earned his first career NBA All-Star honors last season, and he's expected to have a key role on a Houston squad that enters 2025-26 with championship aspirations. 'The Turkish superstar first talks about All-Star weekend, his ongoing relationship with Fred VanVleet on and off the court, and Jalen Green's departure,' Socrates Dergi writes in its summary. 'Afterwards, he also shares his thoughts on Kevin Durant joining the team; the playoff series against Golden State Warriors; gaining playoff experience as a team; how the Rockets keep growing (their) physicality and its main figure, Amen Thompson; and Ime Udoka's coaching philosophy.' While spoken in Turkish, the interview contains English subtitles. Courtesy of @FranchiseSengun on X, here's a roundup of what Sengun had to say regarding the above topics and more. Sengun on Areas of Offseason Focus As you know, I sort of lost my touch this season. I focused on this a lot, my shots and finishing. Of course, my conditioning, as well. This helped me a lot last season in my defense and ability to play longer minutes. And finally, my shooting. Sengun on 'Double Big' Lineups When Ime Udoka introduced the double big lineup, it made my job a lot easier. Having to constantly be physical with the opposing center on defense, and then switching to offense, became very tiring. [With the double big] my performance increased, and I had more energy on both ends. Sengun on Relationship with Fred VanVleet Fred has been an incredible leader since he first joined the team. He does a lot you don't see on the court. Controlling and leading the team is not easy, and he also does this when he's not playing. In my opinion, there is not a single point guard like Fred in the league. Nowadays, point guards are focused on getting their shots. Fred is not like that. He sees the potential in me. Fred [and Ime] get mad and argue with me time to time, but it doesn't last long. He's always in my ear. Sengun on the Jalen Green Trade Of course it was upsetting — Jalen was like my brother. Jalen comes off as a very cool kid, of course. But when you get to know him, he's super kind, he's always helpful. Some players, they try to act 'cool' around their teammates, but Jalen wasn't like that. I think Jalen is going to be a big player. I told him, 'I hope this makes you more motivated.' Sometimes he battles with himself, I think he will become more mature and no longer do this. Sengun on Kevin Durant I reached out to Kevin and told him I'm excited to work together. He said, 'We're going to have fun and do a lot of great things.' Last season I told him one game, 'Don't come to double me, let me play one one one.' He said, 'No way, you're an All-Star now. You're no longer going to play one-on-one. Get used to it.' Sengun on Steven Adams The day he (was traded for), I directly called Ime Udoka and Rafael Stone and told them, 'Normally, when a team signs a center of Steven Adams quality as a backup, they wouldn't be happy.' But I was extremely happy. Steven's main focus is for us to get better. For example, he sometimes lets me get shots off to raise my confidence. He doesn't care about losing [in practice]. He's a great veteran. I'm sure he does, but I've never seen Steven Adams lift weights. He has his own unique workouts. He spends a lot of time stretching There was one workout where my only job was to box him out. I bear hugged him so he can't get the rebound, he lifted his arms, and I thought my shoulders were going to pop off. Sengun on 2025 Playoffs The Warriors were probably the one team that would have gave us the most trouble, and we drew them. They're a very experienced team, and they fouled a lot. In the playoffs, they don't call it. But they were the ones crying all series about fouls not being called. When it comes to us, we're not really allowed to complain. It's more of an internal thing. Ime Udoka doesn't allow it. He loses his mind if we complain. Sengun on Playing Against Draymond Green Never in my life has something like this scared me. If anything, it makes me angry. Sengun on Amen Thompson Amen is an incredible athlete. There is seriously nothing else like this Amen is very hardworking. As you know, in the NBA there is other things like 'fit' [clothing] culture. Amen is strictly basketball. He works hard in practice, takes his recovery seriously He makes the most of his God-given athleticism. Sengun on Thompson's Injury There was one game, Amen needed an an assist or something to get his trouble-double. Normally, Ime Udoka doesn't leave you in the game if there is a big score difference. There were countless times he didn't put me back in the game when I was close. But that game, Udoka let him play, and Amen twisted his ankle. After that I joked saying 'Amen, you ruined it for all of us. Now Udoka will never let me continue to play [to get a triple double].' Sengun on 2025-26 Season There will be a lot of pressure this year, but I think the entire team has the strength to handle it. We are now like soldiers — Ime and his soldiers. I think everyone is extremely focused and working hard. I hope we will live this excitement, and will allow others to feel the same excitement. Sengun on the Western Conference The West is dangerous. You can say there is no bad team. But this is also good for us... it will get us ready for the playoffs. You play more focused against better teams. Sengun on All-Star Honors It was great being with the other stars, to get to know them. It was upsetting not to be selected for All-NBA. This was one of my goals. But these sort of things motivate me. So this season, my goal will be to be All-NBA and become a champion. Even if I don't become All-NBA, as long as the team is successful [that is what matters]. Sengun on Winning a Title in Houston The complete interview can be viewed below (Turkish with English subtitles). More: Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet traveled to Turkey to work with Rockets star Alperen Sengun This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Interview: Alperen Sengun on his offseason and the 2025-26 Rockets
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s solo homer (16)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hits a home run to left field in the top of the 6th inning to give the D-backs a 2-1 lead
