Myles Garrett to Undergo Knee Surgery, Placed on IR — No Timeline; Rams Must Rebuild a Pass Rush on the Fly
The Los Angeles Rams announced Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, costing him at least four weeks. Coach Sean McVay declined to set a firm return date and said the move to
By SLAM Intel Desk · 4 min read · Updated Sep 16, 2026, 12:11 AM EDT
Reported · Published
How this is rated
Rule-based news significance, not medical severity, win probability or a betting recommendation. Availability reports rank above routine context. Extended absences rank higher; unconfirmed reports are capped. Market scores use recorded movement size, not its cause.
The 1–10 score is editorial significance. Measured changes below require source-linked records; the score does not claim a change in win probability or medical severity.
Ask SLAM about this story
The article and its sources travel with your question.
Lede — Garrett to have knee surgery; McVay won’t set a return date
The Los Angeles Rams announced Monday that edge rusher Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and has been placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four weeks. Head coach Sean McVay declined to put a firm timetable on Garrett’s return — “I don’t really [have a timeline] yet,” McVay said — and described the move as the result of evaluations following the season opener in Australia.
The decision robs a retooled Rams defense of its marquee offseason addition at the moment when the schedule turns meaningful, and immediately forces Los Angeles to alter how it will generate pressure without one of the league’s premier pass-rushers.
What we actually know right now
The league and team confirm surgery and an IR designation with a four-week minimum absence; beyond that, the timeline is contingent on Garrett’s recovery. National outlets and power rankings reacted quickly, marking the Rams down and flagging their defensive front as an immediate area of concern.
McVay stressed the decision followed the team’s assessment after the Australia game and contrasted Garrett’s situation with Aaron Donald’s separate return process. The team has not decided whether Donald will play in Week 2 against the New York Giants.
How the Rams will have to adapt in the short term
Garrett wasn’t just a name on the roster — he was expected to be a primary pass-rush threat after arriving in a high-profile trade. Without him, the Rams lose a consistent edge-to-pocket threat and may need to compensate through schematic changes: more blitzes, stunts, and heavier rotation among younger or depth edge defenders.
Practical fixes include increasing usage of interior pressures (where Aaron Donald still matters if he’s available), cross-rushing stunts to create one-on-one matchups, and mixing veteran situational rushers into pass-rush downs. Expect Los Angeles to elevate or audition several depth options in the coming weeks while relying on game-planning adjustments to hide personnel gaps.
What to watch next
Short-term markers: (1) an update from the Rams medical staff about the specific procedure and recovery timeline; (2) a Week 2 availability decision on Aaron Donald; and (3) which roster moves (promotions, waiver claims, or minor trades) the Rams pursue to replace missed snaps at edge rusher.
Medium-term: watch whether the Rams’ defensive efficiency (pressure rate, sacks allowed, third-down stop rate) meaningfully diverges from preseason expectations over the next four to eight games. That will determine whether Garrett’s absence is a hiccup the roster can absorb or the start of a deeper season-long problem.
SLAM Explains
The complicated part, made simple.
Why the IR designation matters: the 4-week minimum explained
Under current NFL practice rules, a player placed on injured reserve typically must miss a minimum of four games before he can return to the active roster. That four-week floor sets the near-term availability window and determines roster moves the team must make to fill the vacancy.
Why it matters here
Knowing the 4-week minimum helps set expectations for lineup decisions, short-term game planning and whether the team needs to call up replacements or pursue external help.
Sources and attribution
- NFLPublished Sep 14, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT
Reporting attributed to NFL.
- Yahoo SportsPublished Sep 15, 2026, 12:11 AM EDT
Reporting attributed to Yahoo Sports.
- CBS SportsPublished Sep 15, 2026, 10:14 AM EDT
Reporting attributed to CBS Sports.
Take it to the engine
See the matchup intelligence.
Continue the story