Garrett's poor debut with Rams explained by lingering knee issue
Myles Garrett had a historically ineffective performance against the 49ers in the Australia game, failing to pressure the quarterback. He admitted he wasn't at full strength due to knee swelling, and the Rams chose to play him while leaving Aaron Donald home. The article cautions against overreacting to one poor game.
Garrett's debut with the Rams in Melbourne produced one of the worst statistical outings of his career, with the defensive end failing to register any meaningful pressure on San Francisco's quarterback. The 49ers exploited his absence from the pass rush, completing over 73 percent of throws while McCaffrey gashed the defense for 6.8 yards per carry. The performance was so poor it hadn't been matched in nearly eight years.
The root cause appears to be a lingering knee issue that plagued Garrett throughout the offseason. Team officials opted to hold Aaron Donald out of the trip while he works toward game readiness, yet chose to activate Garrett despite his swelling knee. Garrett acknowledged postgame that he wasn't fully healthy, though he stopped short of using it as an excuse for his play.
This story could shape how fans and analysts evaluate star players making team debuts, particularly in international showcase games where performance is amplified. The Rams' decision to play a compromised Garrett while resting Donald may raise questions about roster management and injury transparency across the league. It could also influence how future players and teams approach overseas matchups, weighing competitive readiness against the risk of underwhelming performances that invite criticism.