The Los Angeles Rams have spent most of the season without the player they expected to anchor their pass rush this season. Myles Garrett played only the opener before knee surgery put him on injured reserve. Since then, Los Angeles has had to find ways to win without its biggest defensive addition.
That search is working. The Rams are 4-4, winners of three of their last four games, allowing 48 points across those three games. Garrett’s return allows Sean McVay and the Rams to focus on another position before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Myles Garrett’s Return Changes What Rams Need From Deadline
Myles Garrett Returns to Practice
Garrett opened his 21-day practice window this week after nearly two months out with knee surgery. McVay has not set a return date, leaving Sunday against Washington uncertain. The Rams are taking it one day at a time.
Patience makes sense. His health matters more than one game. Garrett struggled in the opener with his knee, recording no tackles across 40 snaps, and then went under the knife.
This is not an ordinary rusher. Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 in 2025. He had at least 12 sacks in each of the previous six seasons.
Defense Has Improved Without Him
Timing is the story.
Los Angeles allowed 27 points in Week 1, then six against the New York Giants, 30 to Denver, 20 to Philadelphia, and 37 to Buffalo. Since Week 6, the defense has surrendered 18, 21, and nine.
Garrett does not have to rescue a broken unit. The Rams found a rhythm. He could raise the ceiling instead.
His presence forces offenses to account for him before the snap, creating cleaner chances for other rushers when protection cannot slide everywhere.
The price was steep: Jared Verse to Cleveland, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder. Verse has yet to record a sack for the Browns, so the deal still depends on Garrett staying available.
Rams Still Have Reason to Consider Another Move
His return does not solve everything. The holes that could derail a contender simply moved.
The new problem is the secondary. Jaylen Watson needs shoulder surgery after aggravating the injury against the Los Angeles Chargers, ending his year. He had allowed completions on 48.5% of targets in coverage through eight games.
That changes the math. Garrett can strengthen the rush. He cannot replace a corner.
Trent McDuffie also left the Chargers game with a back injury after recording an interception. His status stays under watch, leaving thinner depth for an NFC race.
Myles Garrett Gives Los Angeles More Flexibility
McVay said the Rams are counting on injured players returning rather than assuming a trade is required. Garrett belongs to that group, alongside Terrance Ferguson and Kobie Turner.
That logic works for the rush. Another edge defender may be unnecessary if Garrett returns healthy while the line keeps producing. The secondary asks a different question, since Watson’s injury left a hole on the roster.
So the return is a reason to be selective, not to stop looking.
Myles Garrett Could Change Rams’ Defensive Ceiling
The next few weeks will show whether he returns to his usual level. Practice workload gives the first signal. McVay said Garrett was limited Wednesday, with the load rising gradually.
If it goes well, Los Angeles gains what it has lacked since Week 1: a proven rusher who changes protection schemes without the rest of the defense manufacturing pressure.
That could make the Rams more dangerous without another addition. The secondary remains unresolved. Garrett can improve the front. He cannot cover.
The Last Word
The return gives Los Angeles a valuable answer before the deadline. It should not end the search for help. The Rams improved without him, allowing 48 points across three games, which makes his arrival matter more: he can lift a functioning defense instead of carrying it.
The deadline question now centers on the secondary. Watson is done for the year. McDuffie’s health needs watching. Garrett solves part of the equation once healthy. Los Angeles should still move on a cornerback if one appears.
His return does not close the conversation. It gives the front office room to decide where the next addition will help most.
Main Image: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
