McVay sets no return date for Garrett as Rams prepare for injured reserve

Myles Garrett is set to miss at least four games as the Rams prepare to place him on injured reserve for knee surgery. Coach Sean McVay said Monday he does not yet know when the pass rusher can return.

The Rams coach confirmed Garrett is set for knee surgery and injured reserve, but said he could not establish a return date without knowing more about the procedure and recovery. The team had hoped its new pass rusher could manage the knee problem while playing. His opening game in Australia changed that assessment.

ESPN Rams reporter Sarah Barshop relayed McVay’s central update Monday: Garrett will miss at least four games, and the coach does not yet know how many beyond that.

What changed after the opener

McVay said the decision followed his conversation with Garrett after the game. Los Angeles had believed the injury was something Garrett could play through; seeing his limitations and hearing how he felt led the team to change course.

That account follows Garrett’s blunt assessment in the Rams’ official postgame news conference, published September 11. He said he had not felt like the player he knew he could be and that getting healthy was his immediate priority. He also described spending too much attention on his own condition during the game.

The video below is that postgame explanation, before Monday’s surgery update.

Garrett did not blame the trip to Australia for the result. Asked about the organization’s approach, he supported the decision and pointed instead to the team’s execution. His comments separated dissatisfaction with his own physical condition from the broader questions about the Rams’ preparation.

Donald’s status remains open, too

Aaron Donald is not yet a confirmed reinforcement for the next game. McVay said Monday that Los Angeles has not decided whether Donald will play against the Giants, according to both the team’s update and Barshop’s reporting.

McVay described Donald’s situation as a process of getting ready to play, separate from the knee issue that Garrett had tried to manage. His availability remains a separate question for a defensive front already losing Garrett.

The Rams identified the four games Garrett would miss once placed on injured reserve: the Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills. Any return after that stretch depends on his recovery; the minimum absence alone does not establish availability.

For managers tracking the Rams’ defense or individual defensive players, those are two separate roster questions: Garrett’s eventual return and Donald’s next-game status. Monday’s update settled neither date. Los Angeles is preparing for a stretch without Garrett while leaving Donald’s participation undecided.