Following his offseason blockbuster trade from the Cleveland Browns, Garrett missed time due to a nagging knee injury. The player and team both dismissed the issue as minor, and suggested his absence was mostly maintenance. However, during Thursday’s season opener, Garrett clearly wasn’t himself and admitted afterward that he was concerned about his knee during the game. Surely, the 15-hour flight to and from Australia didn’t help the matter.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year generated a team-high five QB pressures but earned zero sacks and zero tackles in the blowout loss.
Losing Garrett takes a bite out of the Rams’ pass rush. Getting Aaron Donald, who sat out Week 1, on the field will be of some aid, but losing Garrett off the edge hurts the entire defense. Offenses won’t have to worry about sending as many chips and helps that way for at least four games.
The Rams face the Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills the next four weeks. L.A. hosts the Cardinals in Week 6, the first game Garrett would be eligible to return.