McVay Targets Garrett's Return From Injured Reserve Sunday
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Friday that Los Angeles expects to activate linebacker Myles Garrett from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's Week 9 road game against the Washington Commanders, "barring any sort of setbacks." Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
Garrett has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in Week 1 that required arthroscopic surgery. The Rams went 4-3 in his absence and currently sit at 4-4 on the season. The Rams acquired Garrett from the Cleveland Browns in June in a trade that sent defensive end Jared Verse, a 2024 first-round pick, along with a 2027 first-rounder, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2029 third-rounder to Cleveland. bkfc fight odds
Los Angeles' defense has performed well statistically without its new star edge rusher, ranking fourth in the NFL in opponent passing yards (191.9 per game), fifth in opponent total yards (301.1 per game), 12th in opponent points allowed (21.0 per game) and 14th in opponent rushing yards (109.3 per game). The unit's pass rush has lagged, however, with the Rams tied for 26th in the league with 12.0 sacks - an area Garrett is expected to address immediately upon his return. A five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with 23 last season for Cleveland, adding three forced fumbles, a league-high 33 tackles for loss and 60 combined tackles. He has won Defensive Player of the Year honors twice, in 2023 and 2025, and averaged 13.9 sacks and 2.6 forced fumbles per season across nine years with the Browns (2017-25), leading the league in tackles for loss in each of his final two seasons there.
The Rams also announced cornerback Jaylen Watson has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Los Angeles will look to Garrett's potential debut to boost its pass rush as it visits Washington in Week 9.
