The Los Angeles Rams are officially without superstar Myles Garrett, who hit the injury reserve Thursday and will miss at least four games, and that means one of their unlikeliest rookies, Wesley Bailey, is about to get a whole lot more important. Less than six months ago, Bailey wasn’t even called in the 2026 NFL draft, his NFL prospects trailing his CFL potential, but now he’s staring down a massive opportunity.
From Undrafted to Unexpected Starter?
The Rams have no roster move yet to fill Garrett’s void, which means any edge rush help for Monday’s game against the New York Giants has to come from players already on the squad. That’s where Bailey, an undrafted free agent from Louisville, steps in. Coach Sean McVay himself called Bailey out on the “Coach McVay Show,” saying, “He’s another guy that we’re going to be counting on.” McVay added that Bailey will need to make an impact on special teams and truly grasp his defensive roles and responsibilities. “He’s another guy that’ll be asked to step up, for sure,” McVay said, and you know that’s not just coach-speak when the reigning DPOY is sidelined.
Bailey was a standout in training camp, earning himself an unlikely spot on McVay’s 53-man roster. While other rookies like Ty Simpson, Max Klare, and C.J. Daniels are looking at healthy scratches this week, and third-round tackle Keagen Trost is on IR, Bailey is on track for his first defensive snaps against the Giants. He already saw two special teams snaps in the Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers, but against New York, he’s definitely doing more than that. This guy’s athletic, too, weighing 260 lbs at a hair under 6’5. He posted a broad jump over 10 feet, a 35-inch vertical, and a 4.69 40-yard dash at his pro day. He racked up 15.5 sacks over six college seasons and looked even better in the 2026 preseason.
Can the Rook Keep the Rams Afloat?
It’s not going to be easy. While Bailey now becomes important, it probably won’t be a huge role right away. The Rams still have Byron Young starting, and Josaiah Stewart, who had six tackles in Week 1, needs to grab a bigger starting role in Week 2. Veteran Desjuan Johnson also got 15 snaps in Week 1, and a call-up like Jamie Sheriff is even possible. Frankly, the juice hasn’t been flowing from the Rams’ edge rusher unit as a whole, which means this situation for Bailey is even more critical. He’s got the chance to do the improbable: help L.A. keep their heads above water without their defensive superstar. It’s a tall order, but man, what a shot for the kid.
The stage is set for Monday night against the New York Giants. Bailey isn’t just playing for himself; he’s playing to keep this Rams defense from buckling under the pressure of losing Garrett. Keep an eye on the undrafted rookie, because he might just shock everyone.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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