Myles Garrett to Have Knee Surgery, Miss Four Games

Myles Garrett will undergo knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least four games for the Los Angeles Rams.

The knee had bothered the defensive end through training camp and into the season opener. Garrett and the club had previously called the issue minor, describing his absences from practice as precautionary rather than a sign of a deeper problem.

That opener, a 7:27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, was his first appearance since arriving from the Cleveland Browns in an offseason trade — a move that had already drawn reaction from AFC North rivals, with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph saying he was relieved to see Garrett out of the division. Garrett finished the game with no sacks and no tackles, and afterwards said he had spent more time thinking about the knee than about the man across from him, calling it the worst performance of his career.

Without him, the Rams face the Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills. Garrett cannot return before the Week 6 game against Arizona.

The Rams entered the season already managing scrutiny elsewhere in the lineup, with the NFL reviewing misconduct cases involving Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson even as both were cleared to play in the opener, and Aaron Donald back on the field after his comeback. Losing the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to injury adds another absence to a defensive front that had been built around him since the trade.