WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – During last year's training camp, quarterback Stetson Bennett IV was leading the third-team offense in the developmental period at the end of each training camp practice, since Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo were both healthy. The next two preseason games would represent the majority of his reps in the preseason.

With Stafford sidelined by back soreness and Garoppolo running the first-team offense in his place, Bennett saw much more action this year. That extended run has made a tangible difference.

"The only way you can progress in this game is through reps," Bennett said. "... The only way you can get better at playing football is playing football. And so just completely different. More confidence in what my guys are going to do, what I'm going to do, the way the offense is run."

The 2024 training was also a stage in Bennett's re-onboarding after being on the Reserve/NFI list his entire rookie season. At that time, he was essentially trying to get his feet back under him after being away from the team.

"I think it's completely different," Bennett said. "Last year, not only was I coming back from the year, I didn't really get any reps in camp, and so yeah, just the reps and you got a whole year of throwing routes on air. Whether you're getting reps or not, you're playing football, and so, yeah, just a completely different spot."

Head coach Sean McVay has noticed Bennett having a lot more fun this year – "The biggest thing is, number one, I'm seeing a lot of smiles out here," McVay said after the Rams' final open training camp practice. Bennett indicated it's a reflection of the realization of hard work paying off.

"I think it's more fun when you're playing well, you know?" Bennett said. "I think that's just the blunt point of it. But, yeah, I think that's where it stems from. And kind of from the fact that I know that it's been a lot of hard work to get to this point, and there's gonna be a lot of hard work that it takes to get to the next point that I want to get to. But I'm able to sit back and say, 'All right, that was a good play and we worked for it, so it's okay to celebrate it."

Asked what he's expect to see from Bennett in the preseason, and how that compares to the way he was evaluating him in last year's preseason, McVay said he just wants to "see him continue to do what he's done, keep taking steps in the right direction."

"I think most importantly, I've seen the guy that's enjoying it is totally immersed and present out on the field, and being able to move from one snap to the next," McVay said. "I think you're looking for good operation in and out of the huddle, good command, good ability to be able to read with his feet and be able to distribute the ball where it goes. And then part of the thing that makes his game fun is when things go off schedule, he can do some pretty creative stuff just by being the natural, instinctive athlete that he is, but more than anything, the good operation and really just enjoy the opportunity go compete and show the work that he's put in."