Myles Garrett is back. Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed Friday that the star pass rusher will be activated from injured reserve and play Sunday, Nov. 8, against the Washington Commanders, according to Pro Football Talk.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo were first to report Friday that Garrett was on track to be activated, ESPN noted. McVay then confirmed it at his Friday press conference.
Garrett played in the season opener against the 49ers in Australia, then had arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-September and has been on IR since. The knee had bothered him before that, too. Irritation kept him out of most of training camp, and he said after Week 1 that he wasn’t fully healthy. He returned to practice this week, and as recently as Monday McVay wouldn’t put a timeline on a game return.
Los Angeles paid a lot to get him. The Rams sent Jared Verse, a two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, and three draft picks, including a 2027 first-rounder, to the Browns this offseason. Garrett arrived as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year after setting the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23 in Cleveland in 2025.
The pass rush has missed him. The Rams are tied for 26th in the league with 12 sacks. Sunday will also be the first game with Garrett and Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement, active at the same time. Tight end Terrance Ferguson is set to come off IR as well after missing five games with an ankle injury, per PFT.
The timing works. The Rams are 4-4, have won two straight and sit tied for second in the NFC West, Yahoo Sports reported. After Washington, they play the Cardinals before a Week 11 bye.
Why it matters
McGraw Media’s read: this is the defense the Rams bet on when they gave up Verse and a first-round pick, and they’ve barely seen it. Twelve sacks through eight games isn’t what you plan for with the reigning sack king and Aaron Donald on the same roster, so Garrett’s return is the biggest addition the Rams could make to their second half. At the same time, he’s coming off knee surgery after a knee that bugged him all summer, and the Rams haven’t said how many snaps he’ll get Sunday. Get him through the Commanders and Cardinals healthy, use the bye to reset, and the real version of this defense finally shows up for the stretch run.
Leave a Reply