The Los Angeles Rams announced Monday that defensive end Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss at least the next four games after being placed on injured reserve.
Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, played only 40 of 65 defensive snaps in the Rams' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the decision was made after consulting with Garrett immediately following the game.
Surgery and Recovery Timeline
Garrett is scheduled to have the procedure Monday, with the team stating he will miss at least the next four games. His absence will include the Rams' next home game against the New York Giants, road games at Denver and Philadelphia, and a home game against the Buffalo Bills before he becomes eligible to return.
McVay did not provide a specific return timeline, emphasizing that the recovery period depends on the outcome of Monday's surgery and subsequent evaluations.
“Our job is to put our players and our team in positions to have successful outcomes,” McVay said. “Thought we would take an approach where he’d be feeling good enough to go, contribute positive change and be the player that he’s capable of. But that wasn’t the case, and so the next right thing for us is to be able to get this thing fixed.”
Injury Background and Team Response
Garrett first experienced knee discomfort and swelling during training camp, which limited his participation in team workouts leading up to the season opener. The severity of the injury was not fully apparent until after the Week 1 defeat, prompting the team to reevaluate Garrett's condition.
The Rams' decision to place Garrett on injured reserve followed a review of his performance and medical evaluations. McVay acknowledged the team's initial assessment may have been incorrect, stating that the situation was not as manageable as initially believed.
“It’s all contingent on how do things go [Monday],” McVay said. “But I think it would be unfair to him, without having the totality of all the information, to put any sort of timeline on it.”
Impact on the Rams' Season
Garrett's absence comes at a critical juncture for the Rams, who fell to 0-1 following the Week 1 loss. The team now faces a challenging stretch without one of its most impactful defensive players. Garrett, acquired in a trade this offseason, set an NFL record with 23 sacks last year and was expected to bolster the Rams' defensive line.
The Rams' next four games include matchups against division rivals and teams with strong defensive reputations, adding urgency to Garrett's recovery and rehabilitation process.