The Los Angeles Rams officially put Myles Garrett on the injured reserve list on Thursday, a move everyone saw coming after his recent knee surgery. This is a gut punch for the Rams, because the dude is gonna miss at least four games, and he can’t even be eligible to return until Week 6 when they face the Cardinals. Talk about bad timing, too, because those next four games are probably the toughest stretch on their entire schedule.
The Brutal Road Ahead Without Their Marquee Defender
We’re talking about games against the Giants, Denver, Philadelphia, and Buffalo. Seriously, those are exactly the matchups where the Rams need their absolute best pass rusher, and he’s out. Head coach Sean McVay dropped some insight on “The Coach McVay Show” about why the arthroscopic procedure didn’t happen sooner. He said Garrett had a knee issue that kept him from practicing, and they initially thought he could work through it. But once they hit “real game-like settings,” it was clear he wasn’t feeling right. So, they made the call to get it fixed, and McVay stressed it was a collective decision with Garrett and the medical staff. McVay even calls the guy ‘Wolverine’ because he heals fast, but there’s no rushing this one. McVay confirmed Garrett was on crutches yesterday but walking without them today, truly Wolverine-like, but they’re not putting a timeline on his return beyond the minimum four weeks. They want him “feeling good” and ready to perform at his usual elite level before he steps back on the field.
Who Steps Up Against The G-Men?
With Garrett sidelined, the Rams are scrambling to fill that massive void. They’re looking to a variety of players, including rookie Wesley Bailey, to step up. Byron Young is a key piece here, having racked up a legit 12 sacks last season without Garrett, so we know he can produce. Josiah Stewart, who had one pressure last week, and Desjuan Johnson are also in the mix at outside linebacker. And get this: Aaron Donald, the GOAT himself, could be making a surprise return from retirement on Monday against the Giants! That would be a monumental boost for their defensive line, coming at the perfect time. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula has gotta be hoping that the Giants’ offensive line, which is usually a weak point, isn’t as improved as New York thinks it is. The Giants did draft guard/tackle Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick, but they still allowed Jaxson Dart to get sacked twice in Week 1 against the Cowboys.
The Rams definitely need to rebound after a poor defensive showing in Week 1 against the 49ers, especially against the run. They’ll have to do it without their ‘Wolverine’ for a bit, starting with those Giants on Monday. Can Young, Bailey, and potentially a returning Donald make enough noise to get them through this brutal stretch? It’s going to be a wild ride.
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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