Los Angeles Rams defensive powerhouse Myles Garrett will miss at least the next four weeks after being placed on injured reserve to undergo surgery on a knee injury that has proven more serious than initially believed. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year first felt the problem during the team’s training camp, but it became clear after the Rams’ Thursday loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne that the ailment was limiting his performance more than the coaching staff had anticipated. The news broke on Sunday when veteran NFL reporter Tom Pelissero of The Ringer confirmed that Garrett would undergo an operation and be sidelined for an extended period.
The Rams now face a lengthy stretch without their marquee defensive acquisition, a situation that could reshape the team’s strategy on the defensive side of the ball. Garrett’s arrival in Los Angeles was the headline of a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns during the NFL offseason. The trade came on the heels of Garrett’s historic 2025 campaign, in which he shattered the all‑time single‑season sack record, cementing his status as one of the league’s most feared pass rushers. His impact was immediate; alongside newly‑retired star Aaron Donald, who shocked the football world by unretiring to join the Rams, Garrett was expected to anchor a defense that many analysts already pegged as a Super Bowl‑contending unit.
In a press conference on Monday, head coach Sean McVay addressed the situation with characteristic candor. "I don’t really have a timeline yet," McVay said, emphasizing that the recovery schedule would depend on how the surgery and subsequent rehab progressed. "It’s all contingent upon how things go today.
If he feels good about it, that’s a positive sign, but I think it would be unfair to him—or anyone—to put a firm deadline on his return without all the information. We know he could be back in four weeks, potentially, so we’ll just take it day by day." McVay went on to describe his conversation with Garrett after the Melbourne game, noting that the initial assessment of the injury had been overly optimistic. "After I talked with him after the game, after I’d spoken with you guys and just seeing how he felt, we thought we could manage it. That wasn’t necessarily the case.
Having that evidence and being able to say, ‘What’s the next right thing?’ was crucial. It was right after the game, listening to how he felt, how he was able to impact the game, and even just what you all saw with how limited we had to be with him.
Obviously, we thought we were doing the right thing, but in hindsight you always learn from it." The Rams’ defensive line now looks to Aaron Donald to shoulder a larger share of the pass‑rush duties while the rest of the unit adjusts to Garrett’s absence. Donald, who missed the opening week in Melbourne as he works back to full football shape after his brief retirement, is expected to be a critical piece in maintaining the pressure that the Rams have relied on to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. Garrett’s injury forces him to sit out the upcoming matchups against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills. The earliest he could be cleared to return would be for the Week Six contest against the Arizona Cardinals, assuming his recovery proceeds without setbacks.
In the meantime, the Rams will lean on veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, the league’s MVP, to keep the offense firing while the defense recalibrates. The broader implications of Garrett’s injury extend beyond the immediate schedule. Los Angeles entered the 2026 season as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, thanks to a roster stacked with talent on both sides of the ball.
Losing a player of Garrett’s caliber not only tests the depth of the defensive line but also challenges the coaching staff to devise schemes that can compensate for the loss of elite pass‑rushing ability. Historically, teams that have lost a defensive star mid‑season have had to adapt by increasing blitz packages, rotating more players to keep fresh legs on the field, and relying on linebackers to generate pressure. The Rams are likely to explore similar adjustments, perhaps integrating more zone blitzes and leveraging the versatility of players like Leonard Floyd and Von Miller to fill the void. From a medical perspective, knee injuries that require surgery can vary widely in recovery time.
While some athletes return within a month, others need several months to regain full strength and confidence. The Rams’ medical staff will monitor Garrett’s progress closely, employing physical therapy, strength conditioning, and possibly advanced treatments such as platelet‑rich plasma (PRP) injections to accelerate healing.
Fans eager to watch the Rams’ defense will have to be patient, but the organization remains optimistic. The team’s depth chart includes several promising young players who have shown flashes of potential in preseason action. If they can step up, Los Angeles may still maintain a formidable defensive front despite Garrett’s temporary absence. For those following the 2026 NFL season, all games—including the Rams’ upcoming matchups—will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, featuring comprehensive coverage of every London game, the Thanksgiving classics, and the entire playoff run leading up to Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles.
Viewers can also stream the action through various digital platforms, ensuring that fans stay connected to the action as the Rams navigate this challenging stretch without one of their biggest defensive weapons.