The Los Angeles Rams are down a huge piece, with Myles Garrett hitting injured reserve after their Week 1 loss to the 49ers. He’s officially out for at least four weeks, which means no Garrett through Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season. But hold up, Rams fans, because what seemed like a total gut punch actually just got a weirdly good update on his return timeline.
Myles Garrett’s Absence and The Big Reveal
Okay, so getting Garrett placed on IR right after Week 1? That stings. He’s a game-wrecker, plain and simple. We all knew he’d miss at least a month. The official word was four weeks minimum, ruling him out through Week 5. After that, he’s eligible to come off IR for the Rams. That’s the cold, hard fact. But then Jonathan Jones from The Athletic dropped some info that flips the script on what “worst-case” even means for the Rams.
Six Weeks is The Ceiling, Not The Floor
Turns out, what everyone feared as the absolute nightmare scenario for Garrett’s return timeline? It’s only six weeks. Yeah, you read that right. A source told Jones that missing six weeks, meaning a return around Week 8, is the *worst possible outcome*. Think about that. The guy went on IR, and the absolute longest he’s expected to be out is still pretty manageable in the grand scheme of an NFL season. There were even whispers he could be back as soon as Week 6, though that’s not confirmed. But a second team source even thinks he’ll be back by October 25 against the Raiders. The key takeaway? Even if he hits that six-week “worst-case,” Rams fans are looking at their dominant defender being back by Week 8 at the very latest.
So, while the Rams obviously want Garrett back on the field ASAP, this news means the absolute longest they’ll be without him is six weeks. That’s a huge sigh of relief compared to indefinite timelines or season-ending fears. Rams fans can now look forward to seeing Garrett back in action, with the expectation he’s going to be wreaking havoc by Week 8, if not sooner. This team’s got a big stretch ahead, and knowing their superstar isn’t sidelined for good changes the whole vibe.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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