Former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett brings Rams back for offseason workouts after mysteriously missing his first NFL season for ‘undisclosed reasons’ when Los Angeles placed him on non-injury list football-related ahead of the 2023 opening match.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett has joined the Los Angeles Rams for the start of their offseason program after missing his entire rookie season for undisclosed reasons.

Bennett, 26, attends team meetings and lifts weights with his teammates at the Rams’ practice complex, coach Sean McVay confirmed Tuesday. The team has not yet started on-field practices.

“He looks good,” McVay said of Bennett. “He has a good look in his eyes. He was attentive during meetings.

The Rams drafted the Georgia quarterback, a two-time national championship winner, in the fourth round a year ago. But ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft in April, Bennett was arrested in Dallas, Texas, for public drunkenness in January after allegedly knocking on doors in a residential neighborhood at 6 a.m. PT.

A report on the incident states that police saw Bennett “walk further into the closed area to hide behind a brick wall near a random (apartment) in an attempt to possibly avoid detection ( by the arresting officers.”

He was arrested for public drunkenness in Dallas, three months before he was drafted.

He was eventually taken to a city detention center, although he told police he was trying to wake a friend.

Reflecting on his arrest at the 2023 NFL Combine in March, Bennett explained that the incident was not an action worthy of his position or name.

“It was, you know, a mistake that everyone is aware of. I understand why it can’t happen, I talked to the coaches, the general managers and apologized to my family,” he said at the time. “That’s how I feel the worst, I feel like I’m depressed because no matter where I go now and even without all this, I have an obligation, I’m the fourth, I can’t do this if your last name It’s Bennett.

Bennett, 26, is a two-time national championship-winning QB with Georgia (2021 and 2022)

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Bennett looked good in practice and was attentive in meetings

Bennett – the grandson of former South Carolina QB Buddy Bennett – participated in the Rams’ offseason program and played extensively in the preseason last year, but was placed on the reserve/reserve list. non-football illness five days before Los Angeles’ regular season opener. .

He was expected to be Matthew Stafford’s replacement as a rookie, but he did not return to the team in 2023. The Rams never announced the reason for Bennett’s absence.

The Rams signed Jimmy Garoppolo last month to back up Stafford in 2024, but Bennett took further steps toward a return when he met with Dave Ragone, Los Angeles’ new QBs coach.

If Bennett is ready to resume his professional career, that could deter the Rams from selecting a QB with a high draft pick this week.