Rams' Garrett to miss time after knee procedure

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett is headed to injured reserve after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Garrett was ineffective in the season opener against the 49ers and acknowledged he wasn't fully healthy. The team hopes he can return in about four weeks, but the Rams face a tough stretch without him.

Garrett's Week 1 performance in Melbourne was a non-factor, with no pressures recorded against the 49ers, and he admitted afterward that he was playing through discomfort. The arthroscopic procedure addresses what the team described as lingering lower-leg pain that clearly limited his explosiveness off the edge. Los Angeles placed him on injured reserve, which guarantees a minimum four-week absence, though the club is optimistic he can return around that mark.

The Rams' schedule during Garrett's absence is unforgiving: after the long flight home from Australia, they face the Giants, Broncos, Eagles, and Bills in consecutive weeks. Each of those offenses features capable quarterbacks and playmakers who could exploit a weakened pass rush. The potential return of Aaron Donald to the lineup, however, could provide a significant boost to the defensive front while Garrett recovers.