Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic left knee surgery and land on injured reserve, sidelining the Defensive Player of the Year for at least four games following a sluggish season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia.
The blockbuster addition that turned the Los Angeles Rams into the odds-on favorites to win the Super Bowl has hit an immediate and severe roadblock. What was initially downplayed by the team and the player as minor knee maintenance during training camp has culminated in a surgical procedure that will force the defense to operate without its most feared pass rusher.
Surgery, Injured Reserve, and a Four-Game Minimum Absence
According to multiple reports, Garrett is expected to be placed on injured reserve after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his ailing left knee. The procedure comes in the wake of the Rams’ 27-7 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. The absence will sideline Garrett for a minimum of four games, making him eligible to return in Week 6 when the Rams host the Arizona Cardinals.
Garrett’s knee had been a persistent question mark throughout training camp and preseason practices due to swelling and tendinitis. Rams coach Sean McVay revealed in August that the team had been actively managing the star’s workload, noting that Garrett had estimated himself at roughly 85 percent healthy at one point.
A Quiet Opener and Candid Admission After Australia Trip
Despite the lingering lower-leg pain and a gruelling 15-hour flight to and from Australia, Garrett was cleared to play in the season opener. The results on the field, however, revealed that something was fundamentally wrong. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year generated a team-high five quarterback pressures but recorded zero sacks and zero tackles—marking just the fourth time in his career that he finished a game without a single tackle.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Garrett admitted that he spent more time protecting his body than actively rushing the passer, offering a stark assessment of his performance.
A Brutal Early-Season Gauntlet Without the Star Pass Rusher
The timing of Garrett’s absence tests the depth of a defensive front that assembled unprecedented offseason hype. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula will now have to lean more heavily on Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and reserves while facing a daunting four-week stretch.
Without Garrett on the edge, opposing offenses will face far fewer pass-rushing hazards over the next month. The Rams must navigate matchups against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, followed by a Sunday night showdown against the Denver Broncos in Denver, a road trip to face the Philadelphia Eagles, and a home clash with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Aaron Donald’s Looming Return and Defensive Adjustments
The lone silver lining for Los Angeles is the imminent return of franchise legend Aaron Donald. Lured out of retirement by the offseason acquisition of Garrett, Donald stayed home from the grueling trip to Australia and did not play in Week 1. His anticipated season debut next week could provide an immediate emotional and tactical spark to a defensive line in desperate need of stability.
Reflecting on the defensive struggles, Kobie Turner emphasized the need for immediate tactical introspection as the team prepares to adjust its approach.
It’s going to be something that’s good for us to look at and understand how teams going forward are going to try to stop our rush, So we can attack that head-on and we can figure out what’s our solution, how do we just play fast.
Whether the defense can find that speed and solve its pass-rush vulnerabilities while playing without its prized edge rusher remains the central question for a team carrying unyielding championship ambitions.
