The Los Angeles Rams have spent nearly two months trying to manufacture a pass rush without one of the most feared defensive players on the planet.
Now, reinforcements are finally on their way.
Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Monday that superstar defensive end Myles Garrett will return to practice this week ahead of Sunday’s Week 9 showdown with the Washington Commanders, opening the door for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year’s long-awaited return.
“We are excited anytime we get anyone back, especially a guy like Myles,” said Rams’ cornerback Trent McDuffie when told of the news that Garrett will return to practice this week. “Just getting him back on the practice field will be really good. Just knowing we’re getting him back to a defense that is going uphill is awesome.”
Garrett hasn’t played since the Rams’ season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has been sidelined ever since, watching Los Angeles stumble to a 2-4 start before clawing its way back to .500 with consecutive victories.
Garrett was spotted on the Rams sideline on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers on an exercise bike repeatedly. A good sign, that the defensive stopper was nearing a return.
The Rams have been battered along the defensive line, losing Poona Ford to a season-ending triceps injury while Kobie Turner has battled a groin injury and is expected to miss at least a couple more weeks.
Garrett’s presence could change the entire complexion of Chris Shula’s defense.
For starters, opposing offensive coordinators can no longer devote nearly all their attention to Aaron Donald without risking Garrett destroying their protection schemes off the edge.
That means fewer double-teams for Donald, more one-on-one opportunities for the Rams’ other pass rushers and potentially fewer blitzes needed to generate pressure.
The ripple effect could be enormous, allowing Trent McDuffie and the secondary to spend more time in coverage rather than compensating for a depleted defensive front.
And with the NFL trade deadline approaching, Garrett’s return could reduce the urgency to acquire another defensive lineman.
McVay said that the team will play it by ear this week to determine if Garrett will be able to play on Sunday in the Nation’s capital or if it will be a multi-week ramp up before he can return to game action. But regardless, Garrett will be back soon and that’s good news for the rising Rams.
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