Myles Garrett Facing 6-Week Timeline After Knee Surgery, “Not Going To Rush Him Back” says Sean McVay

Myles Garrett was expected to become one of the biggest additions to a Los Angeles Rams defense facing high expectations. Instead, his first month with the team has focused on getting his injured knee healthy.

Garrett dealt with swelling in the knee throughout training camp before playing in the Rams’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. He played 62% of the defensive snaps and finished without a tackle or sack. The Rams later decided he needed surgery.

Myles Garrett Could Miss More Time Than Expected

Myles Garrett is facing about six weeks of recovery following knee surgery, according to sources cited by Ian Rapoport. That timeline would extend beyond the four-game minimum created when the Rams placed him on injured reserve.

#Rams star Myles Garrett faces a 6-week timeline for recovery from knee surgery, sources say. And the team will be cautious.

My story: https://t.co/HrQnBgOzxahttps://t.co/HrQnBgOzxa

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 27, 2026

The earliest Garrett can return is Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 18. A six-week recovery could keep him out of that game and potentially the following matchups against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers.

Garrett hopes to return sooner than that, according to the report. However, the Rams have already made their approach clear. Sean McVay said the team would not rush Garrett back after surgery and wants him able to perform at his normal level.

That makes the six-week estimate more than a routine medical update. It changes when Los Angeles might finally get to use the player it acquired to transform its pass rush.

Rams Made a Major Investment in Myles Garrett

The injury became harder to ignore after Myles Garrett’s limited season debut. He had missed much of training camp because of the knee, and the problem remained an issue when he played in the opener in Australia.

The Rams placed Garrett on injured reserve and sent him for arthroscopic surgery. The only known timetable at first was the four-game minimum required by his injured reserve designation.

McVay did not provide a longer estimate because the team wanted to see how Garrett responded after the operation. Rapoport’s report now offers a clearer idea of how long the recovery could take.

Los Angeles has more at stake than simply waiting for an injured player to return. The Rams traded Jared Verse and three draft picks, including a 2027 first-round selection, to Cleveland for Garrett.

Garrett joined Los Angeles after recording 23 sacks in his final season with the Browns. That production explains why the Rams made such a large investment and why his absence matters to their defense.

The Rams must now wait for Garrett’s knee to heal before seeing the full return on that trade. Garrett is reportedly trying to return in fewer than six weeks, but Los Angeles must balance that goal against its larger plan.

The Rams acquired Garrett to have a star pass rusher available when the season matters most. That makes a careful recovery more important than bringing him back before his knee is ready.

More NFL News:

• Caleb Williams Sidelined, Bears’ QB Mystery Won’t Be Solved Until Monday Night

• NFL’s Hypocrisy Exposed As Players Are Fined For Mock Drinking While League Profits From Beer Sponsors

• Saquon Barkley And DeVonta Smith Cleared, But Eagles Lose Key Weapon Before Bears Game

• “One Of The Worst Trades Ever”: Sauce Gardner Hasn’t Won A Game In The U.S. In 644 Days Since Colts Trade

• “We Gotta Keep This Quarterback”: Chiefs Star Opens His Wallet To Save Mississippi State QB From Transfer

The post Myles Garrett Facing 6-Week Timeline After Knee Surgery, “Not Going To Rush Him Back” says Sean McVay appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.