Los Angeles Rams star edge rusher Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is heading to injured reserve, according to a report by The Ringer. Because he is landing on injured reserve, the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year must miss a minimum of four games before he is eligible to return to the active roster.
Myles Garrett Injury Timeline and Rams Impact
Garrett battled a knee issue that forced him to miss the majority of training camp with the team. In the Rams’ opening-week loss to San Francisco in Australia, he played 39 snaps and recorded zero tackles, marking only the fourth zero-tackle game of his career. Postgame, Garrett acknowledged his physical limitations to reporters, noting that he was not 100% healthy and needed to find a way to recover.
“I’ve got to find a way to recover and get back to the player I know I can be, and I’ve shown that I’ve been before,” Garrett said after the game, according to ESPN. “When I was out there, I was a little bit more focused on myself and trying to stay healthy than what they were doing, and that showed. I wasn’t who I needed to be for my team.”
Garrett joined the Rams in June following a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns. Los Angeles sent Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to Cleveland to acquire the star pass rusher. Over the previous five seasons from 2021 through 2025, Garrett missed just two games while playing in 83 of 85 possible contests, making this stint on injured reserve an unusual interruption to his durable career.
Rams Defensive Line Adjustments and Upcoming Schedule
With Garrett sidelined for at least four weeks, the Rams face a challenging stretch of games against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills. Garrett’s first game eligible for return will be in Week 6 when the Rams host the Arizona Cardinals.
To maintain pressure without Garrett, Los Angeles will lean on fellow edge rusher Byron Young, who recorded a career-best 12 sacks last season and earned Pro Bowl recognition. Rotational pieces such as 2025 third-round draft pick Josaiah Stewart and veteran defender Desjuan Johnson are slated to see increased snaps along the edge.
Additionally, the Rams’ defensive front receives a significant boost from Aaron Donald. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year officially came out of retirement on August 30 to rejoin the franchise. Although Donald did not travel to Melbourne for the season opener, his presence on the defensive line takes on heightened importance while Garrett recovers. In the 2025 season, defensive tackle Kobie Turner also generated substantial pressure, recording seven sacks and 55 pressures, providing further interior support for the Rams’ defense.
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