Rams place Myles Garrett on injured reserve as defensive line faces challenges

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett has been placed on injured reserve following surgery on his left knee, ensuring he will be unavailable for a minimum of four games. The move comes after Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, participated in only 40 of 65 snaps in the season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, citing concerns about his health during the game.

The Rams' defensive front, which includes edge rusher Byron Young, interior linemen Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, and the recently returned Aaron Donald, struggled against the 49ers, recording just two quarterback hits and no sacks. The 49ers' quarterback Brock Purdy completed three touchdown passes, including a 39-yard strike on a clean pocket.

Garrett, who previously amassed 125½ sacks over nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns, acknowledged his limited impact, stating he was focused on staying healthy rather than the opponent’s play. Turner and Fiske each contributed a handful of tackles, while Young, still recovering from a knee issue, recorded a single tackle.

Coach Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Chris Shula now face the task of adjusting the unit without Garrett, while also addressing broader team issues such as a decline in offensive production and special-teams lapses. Donald is expected to return for the Rams' next home game against the New York Giants, which could provide a boost to the defensive line.

"It’s going to be something that’s good for us to look at and understand how teams going forward are going to try to stop our rush," defensive lineman Kobie Turner said. "So we can attack that head-on and figure out our solution, how do we just play fast."

The Rams will wear their “Fearsome White” uniforms on the night before Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers, after a correction to earlier scheduling information.