The Rams’ defense is already staring at a major early-season shakeup, and it starts with Myles Garrett.
Sean McVay said Monday that the team still doesn’t have a firm read on how long Garrett will be out after knee surgery, because the Rams want to wait for the full post-surgery information before putting any kind of timeline on it. Garrett was placed on injured reserve after the team announced he would undergo the procedure, which guarantees he’ll miss at least four games.
That news lands one day after a rough opening act for Los Angeles. The Rams were blown out 27-7 by the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, and Garrett’s debut in a Rams uniform didn’t provide the kind of instant jolt the team was hoping for.
He was on the field for 40 of the Rams’ 65 defensive snaps, but he finished without a sack, tackle or quarterback hit. It was also his first game since 2018 without a pressure.
Garrett had been managing a lingering knee issue through camp, and the Rams had hoped he could avoid surgery. That plan never came together, and now Los Angeles will be without one of its biggest stars for games against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. He can return in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals.
With Garrett sidelined, Byron Young is expected to carry a bigger load off the edge. The Rams could also get a lift if Aaron Donald returns to the lineup; he missed the opener after coming out of retirement shortly before the season began.
For now, the Rams are waiting on the surgery and the answers that come with it.
In Other News...
Rams Have One Bigger Concern Than An Ugly Week 1 Loss
The Rams Week 1 trip to San Francisco ended in a lopsided 27-7 loss, but the bigger takeaway for Sean McVays team was how uneven the overall showing felt on both sides of the ball. McVay said the lesson now is to absorb it, fix it and move on, because the opener offered too many reminders that this roster still has some early-season sorting out to do.
Matthew Stafford was held well below his standard, and the defense, under Chris Shulas zone-heavy approach and low blitz rate, never found enough answers to slow the 49ers. The Rams do have some relief on the horizon with Aaron Donalds possible return looming and depth along the defensive line, but the more immediate concern is whether the issues exposed in Week 1 are just opening-week rust or something more substantial. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Week 13 Problem Their Defense Knows Too Well
Kenneth Walker III is arriving at Week 13 with a familiar kind of warning label for the Rams. He just gashed the Broncos for 173 yards and two touchdowns, the sort of performance that turns a backfield into the centerpiece of a game plan, and Los Angeles is already bracing for what he can do next as it gets ready to face the Chiefs.
For the Rams, the timing is awkward because run defense has already been a point of emphasis after a shaky showing in Week 1. Walker is no longer with the Seahawks, but he remains exactly the kind of downhill challenge that can expose lingering issues in a defense still trying to tighten up against the ground game. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Can't Let Their Week 1 Surprise Create A Bigger Problem
A week after the Cardinals opened with a win over the Chargers, the division picture already feels like it is shifting around them, especially with Seattle next on the schedule. Mike LaFleur has kept the message simple, stressing that Arizona has to treat each week on its own and avoid getting pulled too far ahead by the noise that follows a surprise result.
For the Rams, the more immediate concern is what happens when a rough opener starts inviting bigger questions. Los Angeles drew scrutiny after a poor Week 1 performance, and the chatter around Myles Garrett has only added to the unease, with some league observers wondering about his fit and his readiness after he acknowledged he did not feel like his usual self in Australia. The Rams do not need the side issues becoming the story, but that is the pressure that comes with an early stumble. [Read more 🡒]