Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Myles Garrett requires knee surgery that will likely keep him sidelined for a minimum of four weeks, the team confirmed.
Garrett arrived at the Rams from the Cleveland Browns during the offseason as part of one of the most significant defensive trades in National Football League history. The two-time NFL defensive player of the year took the field in his team's opening fixture against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on 8 September, though the Super Bowl contenders fell to a 27-7 defeat.
Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed the injury timeline with caution, noting that the exact recovery period remains uncertain pending the outcome of the surgical procedure.
I don't really [have a timeline] yet. It's all contingent upon [surgery]. You feel good about it. But I think it'd be unfair to him or really just without having the totality of all the information, to put any sort of timeline on it. We know that he'll be available in four weeks potentially, so we'll just take that a day at a time.
What was Garrett's recent performance?
Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 during the previous campaign, yet he failed to record a tackle during the loss to San Francisco. Following the disappointing result, Garrett expressed his determination to return to form.
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.
What does this mean for the Rams' season?
The absence of Garrett represents a significant blow to a Los Angeles defence that was expected to anchor their Super Bowl aspirations. His loss comes immediately after the team's opening-game defeat, placing additional pressure on the remaining defensive unit to perform at an elite level during his recovery period.
