Myles Garrett reveals heartbreaking toll of knee injury ahead of Rams return

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For Los Angeles Rams superstar Myles Garrett, the hardest part of the last two months wasn’t the knee surgery, the grueling rehabilitation or the uncertainty surrounding his return.

It was being away from the game he loved. 

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has spent the last two months trapped on the sidelines, forced to watch football instead of playing it. Over that time, he’s seen his teammates battle through injuries, suffer heartbreaking losses, and undergo an early-season collapse that threatened to derail their Super Bowl dreams. 

For a player accustomed to tormenting opposing quarterbacks for a living, becoming a spectator was its own form of torture. 

“It was very difficult,” Garrett admitted Friday, opening up about the emotional toll of his lengthy absence publicly for the first time. “This is what I love to do.”

“I love being around my teammates, being able to help the whole group shine,” he continued. “I want to be there in those moments and be able to share in their success and celebrate their success.”

Then came the admission that revealed just how deeply the experience affected him.

“Just not being able to do what I feel like I was put here to do, one of the reasons I was put here, it hurt me for a while.”

Thankfully for the Rams, the wait is over. 

Rams head coach Sean McVay announced Friday that Garrett is expected to return Sunday against the Washington Commanders, barring any setbacks, after finally returning to practice this week.

But Garrett’s road back raises an uncomfortable question: How did a knee problem that Garrett himself described as “soreness,” during training camp deteriorate to the point that one of football’s most dominant defenders needed surgery and missed the last two months?

Garrett provided new insight Friday, describing mechanical issues that worsened as he attempted to play through the injury.

“There were just some hitches in my gait,” Garrett explained. “There were things I was dealing with mechanically that would only continue to evolve, or I guess worsen, as I played more. So it was rough, and I was trying to avoid it. But you kind of learn and you grow.”

The season-opening loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, proved to be the breaking point for Garrett and his left knee. 

Garrett said there wasn’t one particular snap when everything went wrong. Instead, the problems accumulated until his body could no longer perform the way he expected it to.

“I was just frustrated after the game,” Garrett said. “I knew that wasn’t me, and I was being hampered by something.”

Despite his reluctance to miss time, Garrett ultimately accepted that continuing to play wasn’t sustainable.

“I didn’t want to miss any time, but I had to be realistic about where I was physically and had to make the best choice for myself and the team.”

McVay acknowledged Friday that the Rams must examine whether they could have handled the injury differently.

“I think you always want to reflect back on, all right, what would we do differently if things like this come up?” McVay said. “I think our intentions were all in the right place.”

The Rams initially hoped Garrett could play through the issue, but after the opener, surgery became the necessary next step.

McVay isn’t interested in dwelling on those decisions now.

“I’m just grateful that he’s back and he’s feeling really good,” McVay said. “He’s looked awesome in practice. He doesn’t have to do anything other than be Myles and play one-eleventh of what the rest of us are asking him to do for the defense.”

Garrett said he spent his lengthy absence away from the field studying opposing defenders, mentoring teammates and remaining involved in the locker room. This week, Garrett has been more engaged with his teammates than ever before. Whether it’s playing pop-a-shot, shadow boxing, or simply getting into heated discussions about which conference is better the SEC or BIG10. Still, nothing could replace the feeling of lining up across from an offensive tackle with a quarterback in his sights. 

His return also brings something Rams fans have waited months to witness: Garrett and Aaron Donald finally attacking opposing offensive lines together.

Donald, who returned from retirement this season, understands the significance.

“It’s good to have the pieces back to the puzzle,” Donald said Thursday.

The Rams have climbed from 2-4 to 4-4 despite losing key defensive contributors, including Jaylen Watson and Poona Ford for the season. Now, Garrett’s return could transform an already formidable unit into something far more frightening.

And Garrett has a warning for the rest of the NFL.

“I think the offense is really going to have to pick their poison,” Garrett said of playing alongside Donald. “Who’s going to be freed up this play? I think either of us are pretty good at winning one-on-one. So we’ll have some fun.”

After two months of watching helplessly, Garrett finally gets to participate in the fun again and now it’s opposing quarterbacks that won’t be enjoying it as much.

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