Myles Garrett Heading to IR for Knee Surgery After Disastrous Rams Debut
The Los Angeles Rams' bold offseason gamble to assemble a defensive "super-team" has suffered a devastating setback. On Sunday, September 13, 2026, the team announced that star edge rusher Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and be placed on injured reserve1, sidelining him for a minimum of four games.
The decision comes immediately following a highly disappointing, zero-tackle debut for Garrett in the Rams' 27-7 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
A Struggling Debut and an Inevitable Surgery
Garrett, whom the Rams acquired in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns, had been battling knee swelling and discomfort throughout training camp. The organization attempted to manage the injury to get him on the field for the historic season opener in Oceania, but Garrett was entirely neutralized by the 49ers' offensive line, failing to register a single tackle or impact play.
Following the game, McVay and Garrett consulted on the persistent knee issue and decided that playing through the injury was no longer viable. Garrett's arthroscopic procedure was scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026.
Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged that the season opener made the necessity of the surgery clear:
"After spending time during training camp trying to manage Myles Garrett's knee injury, it was the Los Angeles Rams' dismal season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers that made it clear he needed knee surgery23."
McVay has declined to establish a firm timeline for Garrett's return to the field. While a stint on injured reserve mandates a four-week absence, arthroscopic knee procedures typically require a recovery window of six to eight weeks, leaving the Rams' defensive front severely depleted for a significant portion of the regular season.
Fragility in the Rams' Defensive Front
The injury further complicates an already fragile situation for the Rams' defense. While the team generated intense offseason hype by unretiring future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald on a one-year, $20 million deal on August 30, Donald did not play in the season opener.
McVay admitted on Monday that he remains unsure of both Garrett's post-surgery return timeline and when Donald will be ready to make his 2026 season debut, leaving fans and analysts questioning the management of the team's veteran defensive stars.
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An instance of Elite talent can no longer outrun the physical toll of the modern schedule. — A marquee acquisition goes from headline signing to season-altering surgery before his new campaign can begin. ↩︎
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An instance of Elite competitors cannot prioritize team duty over structural warning signs without ending their seasons. — Managing the injury through camp only delayed the inevitable surgery-and-injured-reserve shutdown. ↩︎
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An instance of Playing through minor physical strain inevitably triggers a far more destructive eventual shutdown. — Managing the knee to keep him on the field converted a manageable strain into season-altering surgery after one game. ↩︎