Myles Garrett Injury: What it Means for Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have suffered a major setback just days into the 2026 NFL season after star defensive end Myles Garrett was ruled out for at least the next four games with a knee injury.
Garrett is set to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and will be placed on injured reserve, according to reports. His absence comes at a difficult point for the Rams, who are already coming off a disappointing season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
The 30-year-old was one of the biggest additions to the Rams during the offseason and arrived in Los Angeles with enormous expectations following a record-breaking campaign with the Cleveland Browns.
Now, the Rams must find a way to cope without one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL.
Why Myles Garrett matters to the Rams
Garrett joined the Rams after producing the best statistical season of his career in 2025.
He recorded 23 sacks for Cleveland, setting an NFL single-season record, while also earning another Defensive Player of the Year award. Before his move to Los Angeles, he had already established himself as one of the league’s most dangerous defensive players.
The Rams acquired him in a blockbuster trade that sent outside linebacker Jared Verse and three future draft picks to Cleveland.
The idea was clear: Los Angeles wanted to build an elite defensive front around Garrett.
His arrival also created the possibility of pairing him with Aaron Donald, who returned from retirement and is expected to provide another major presence on the defensive line.
That plan has now been disrupted before Garrett has had the chance to properly settle into his new team.
Garrett’s Rams debut raised concerns
Garrett’s injury became a bigger concern after his first game for the Rams.
He managed no tackles, sacks or other recorded defensive statistics during the 27-7 defeat to the 49ers. Garrett later acknowledged that he was not playing at his best and indicated that the knee issue had affected him.
The performance was particularly disappointing because the Rams had entered the season with one of the league’s most talked-about defensive combinations.
The loss to San Francisco also exposed how much work the team still has to do despite the addition of Garrett.
Garrett’s condition means the Rams will now have to adjust their defensive plans while he recovers.
A difficult schedule without Garrett
The timing of the injury could make the situation more challenging for Los Angeles.
If Garrett remains on injured reserve for the minimum four games, he will miss the Rams’ next four fixtures against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.
That is not an easy stretch for a team hoping to contend at the top of the NFC.
The Rams will therefore have to find ways to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks without the player they expected to be the centrepiece of their pass rush.
Garrett’s absence could also place greater responsibility on the rest of the defensive line. Opposing offences may have more freedom to concentrate their protection elsewhere because one of the biggest threats on the Rams’ front will be missing.
That could force defensive coordinator Chris Shula to rely more heavily on different pressure packages and younger players.
Aaron Donald could become even more important
One potential boost for the Rams is the expected return of Aaron Donald.
The future Hall of Fame defensive tackle returned to the Rams after previously retiring but did not travel with the team for the season opener in Australia.
Donald was expected to miss the opening game, meaning the Rams have yet to see their veteran defensive star and Garrett play together in a regular-season game.
With Garrett now sidelined, Donald’s return could become even more significant.
However, Los Angeles cannot simply expect Donald to replace what Garrett brings. Garrett is an elite edge rusher who can change an offensive game plan with his ability to pressure quarterbacks from the outside.
Donald, meanwhile, operates primarily from the interior of the defensive line.
The Rams will need contributions from multiple players rather than relying on one replacement.
What comes next for the Rams
The immediate challenge for Los Angeles is to prevent Garrett’s injury from becoming bigger than just one player’s absence.
The Rams were already beaten convincingly by San Francisco in their opening game, losing 27-7.
The defeat gave the team an early warning that its Super Bowl ambitions will require improvement on both sides of the ball.
Losing Garrett now adds another layer to that challenge.
The Rams will have to manage his recovery carefully rather than rushing him back before he is ready. An arthroscopic procedure can have different recovery timelines depending on what is discovered and treated during surgery, so the initial four-game absence should not necessarily be treated as a guaranteed return date.
For now, the team’s priority will be getting through the next stretch of games while keeping its defence competitive.
Garrett’s absence also gives other players an opportunity to establish themselves.
Young defensive players could see increased snaps, while established members of the defensive front will be expected to take on greater responsibility.
If they can maintain pressure without Garrett and remain competitive until his return, the Rams could still recover from the early setback.
But if the defence struggles during his absence, the injury could have a much bigger impact on the team’s season than the four missed games suggest.
For a Rams team that made such a significant investment in Garrett, the hope will be that the surgery solves the problem and allows him to return healthy.
Until then, Los Angeles will have to prove that its defensive ambitions do not depend entirely on one superstar.