Injury timeline and roster outlook
Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee and has been placed on injured reserve, the Los Angeles Rams confirmed Sunday. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year will miss at least four games.
Garrett suffered the knee injury early in training camp and managed it for several weeks with rest and rehab, but the issue limited his preparation. He missed most of training camp and was seen wearing a sleeve on his left leg at several practices. Garrett’s injury also impacted his Rams debut: he struggled in the season-opening 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne. Reflecting on that game, Garrett called his performance “the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there” and added, “I’ve got to be better.”
Strategic ramifications for the Rams defense
The absence of Garrett — who was acquired in a high-profile offseason trade that cost the Rams significant draft capital and other assets — immediately alters Los Angeles’ defensive picture. Losing a player of his stature and recent production for a multi-week stretch removes a focal point from the Rams’ pass-rush plans.
With Garrett unavailable, the Rams must reallocate reps among their front-line defenders and depth pieces while rethinking game-planning against opposing offenses. Garrett’s limited snaps in the opener, tied to the knee issue, meant the Rams had already seen a version of him that was not at full strength; his move to injured reserve makes those shortfalls more acute for the immediate slate of games.
The timing — early in the season and following a trade that carried clear expectations — heightens the practical and reputational stakes of the injury.
Garrett’s earliest possible return is set for Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals if the Rams activate him from injured reserve when he is eligible. Until then, the Rams will enter a stretch of at least four games without the player they acquired to anchor their front.
