The Rams may have to move forward without Myles Garrett almost immediately after bringing him in.
According to reports, Garrett is set to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and land on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. The news helps explain why the recently acquired defensive lineman never appeared on the stat sheet in Thursday’s 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Garrett’s absence wasn’t exactly a surprise if you were watching closely. He had reportedly been working through lower-leg and knee issues during Rams training camp, and those problems appear to have followed him into the regular season. During the game, the broadcast repeatedly showed Garrett on the sideline, standing and watching the defense on the field.
The Rams paid a heavy price to get him. In the 2026 offseason, they traded with the Cleveland Browns for Garrett, sending a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round pick the other way. That kind of draft package is a big swing for any player, let alone one who may now be headed to IR after just one game.
Garrett wasn’t the only star the Rams added with a splash. They also brought Aaron Donald out of retirement, with the expectation that the two would form an overwhelming pass rush. So far, though, the Rams have only gotten a limited look at Garrett, and Donald still hasn’t suited up.
The 49ers won’t see the Rams again until Week 14. For now, Los Angeles turns to a Week 2 home game against the New York Giants, and Garrett’s injury could at least even things out a bit.
In Other News...
Christian McCaffrey Shared The Australia Moment He Never Saw Coming
Christian McCaffreys first trip to Australia for the 49ers season opener gave him more than a win over the Rams. After the game in Melbourne, he spent part of his postgame session talking about the lighter side of the trip, from the local coffee to a barber who gave his haircut a review that caught him off guard. It was the kind of off-field moment that usually gets lost in a long road trip, except this one had enough charm to stick.
McCaffrey said the barber called the cut cracker, Australian slang for excellent, and he seemed to enjoy the brief culture lesson as much as the coffee. For a player whose production still mattered in San Franciscos victory, it was a reminder that the teams first game abroad came with a little more texture than the scoreboard alone showed. The football part was straightforward enough, but the travel story added a different kind of memory to the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Young Just Sent 49ers Fans A Strong Week 1 Message
The 49ers opened the season with a convincing 27-7 win over the Rams, the kind of early statement that can make a team look every bit like a contender. It also gave fans a first glimpse of what this group can be when the roster is intact, with the usual mix of talent, depth and big-game expectations attached to it.
Steve Youngs postgame message served as a reminder that the real challenge for San Francisco is rarely about upside. The former quarterback pointed to the obvious strength of the roster while noting how often injuries have complicated things for this team, which is why the path to another Super Bowl run still has to be handled week by week. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Found An International Edge Rams Fans Hate
The 49ers did not just show up in Australia for a game, they treated the trip like a chance to make a first impression that could last. While the Rams opted to arrive late for their NFL date down under, San Francisco got there early and worked the local scene, a contrast that gave the 49ers a chance to feel less like visitors and more like a team willing to meet the country halfway.
For a franchise always looking to widen its reach, that kind of approach matters. It helped the 49ers build more support in Australia while leaving the Rams to wonder whether they had passed on a rare opportunity to grow a fanbase in a market still figuring out which NFL team to adopt. [Read more 🡒]