Los Angeles Rams defensive star Myles Garrett is now expected to miss “roughly six weeks” following arthroscopic knee surgery, a longer recovery period than the team initially anticipated. The initial hope from the Rams, following Garrett's decision to have surgery after their Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers, was for a four-week absence.
This revised timeline pushes Garrett's potential return back a couple of weeks, meaning the Rams will likely be without their key defensive lineman for games against the Raiders and Chargers. Should his recovery extend fully to six weeks, he would also miss the Week 9 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
The update on Garrett's recovery timeline comes from sources who spoke with NFL Network. These sources indicated that Garrett, who was the subject of one of the NFL’s biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory, was given a timeline of roughly six weeks for his recovery from knee surgery.
Garrett's absence is a significant development for the Rams, especially considering the substantial investment made to bring him to Southern California. The team traded two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse and three draft picks, including a 2027 first-round pick, to the Cleveland Browns to acquire him earlier this year. Garrett arrived as a reigning Defensive Player of the Year, coming off a 23-sack season, and was seen as the centerpiece of a defensive rebuild.
His first game with the Rams, however, did not yield a single tackle before he underwent the procedure to clean out his knee. This injury feels like a blow to General Manager Les Snead’s offseason plan, which aimed to reinforce the defense with star upgrades like Garrett and Trent McDuffie. While early returns on McDuffie look good and Aaron Donald also returned, the focus remains on the impact of Garrett's extended absence.
Despite the longer recovery, sources told NFL Network that Garrett is determined to beat the timeline. However, the Rams are expected to proceed cautiously with a player they invested significant capital to acquire. The hope remains that the arthroscopic surgery will relieve discomfort and eliminate swelling, setting him up for a strong return when he's cleared to play.
