Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is officially sidelined for at least four games after knee surgery, and it looks like the Los Angeles Rams’ wild travel plan to Australia might be squarely to blame. This isn’t just a bad break for the Rams; it’s a Week 1 disaster with major implications after a shocking loss.
The Australia Trip Blew Up in Their Faces
Seriously, what were the Rams thinking? They rolled into Australia just over a day before their game against the San Francisco 49ers, and sports scientists were already waving red flags. The Ringer reported Garrett’s injury and IR placement, but The Athletic’s Mike Sando dug into the “why.” Experts told Sando the Rams nailed the sleep component, but they completely dropped the ball on player recovery. Folks, these long flights cause fluid buildup in the legs, leaving players feeling “heavy-legged.” And guess what? This problem gets *worse* for bigger guys, exactly like Garrett. The Rams ended up losing 27-7 to the Niners, looking completely flat, and Garrett had a debut he’d probably rather forget. He played at least 55 snaps without a single tackle. A seven-time Pro Bowler, usually a game-wrecker, gets nothing? Come on!
Garrett’s Post-Game Confession Rings Alarms
It gets worse, fans. Garrett himself told reporters after the game, “I didn’t feel I was the player I’ve been before when I stepped on the field.” That’s a huge red flag coming from a player of his caliber. One former Cleveland Browns assistant weighed in, telling Sando that comment meant one of two things, or maybe a bit of both: either Garrett wasn’t buying into the team’s prep, or he had “another ailment going on.” Given the scientists’ warnings about heavy legs, it’s not hard to connect the dots. The Rams gambled big on this travel strategy, and now they’re paying the price with their star defender out for a month minimum.
Look, it’s not like a Week 1 loss is automatically the end of the world. Our own Seattle Seahawks famously dropped their 2025 opener to the New England Patriots, a 13-10 battle where Drake Maye threw three interceptions, and our Hawks still went on to win a title! But the Rams’ situation feels different. This isn’t just about losing; it’s about the apparent cost of a risky travel call that cost them their best player. With Garrett on injured reserve, the Rams have some serious questions to answer. You just have to wonder if they’re already regretting not taking a more traditional approach for that marathon trip. What a mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply