Myles Garrett headed to IR after knee surgery as Rams take hit
The Rams’ Super Bowl hopes take an early hit as Myles Garrett is headed to injured reserve following arthroscopic knee surgery, delaying a potential pairing with Aaron Donald.
Aaron Donald is planning to make his return to the Los Angeles Rams on “Monday Night Football.”
The Rams are set to host the New York Giants at SoFi Stadium on Monday, Sept. 21.
“That’s the plan,” Donald told reporters on Friday, Sept. 18, when asked if he’d be playing.
“He’s obviously chomping at the bit to play,” Rams coach Sean McVay said on Thursday, Sept. 17. “… Hopefully he’s feeling good enough. … If he says he’s ready to go, then we’ll be excited to see him rock.”
Donald has spent two years away from the Rams and the NFL after retiring following the 2023 season. After winning the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, Donald played 27 games over the next two seasons before retiring. He played 11 games in 2022, when the Rams finished third in the NFC West with a 5-12 record.
The Rams project as Super Bowl contenders this season after adding pass rusher Myles Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie in the offseason to help bolster the defense. The Rams were second in the division last season with a 12-5 record, and their campaign ended in the NFC championship game.
Donald would have immediately benefited with Garrett on the field, but their work as a duo will have to wait. Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to miss several weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
The Rams are looking to rebound after suffering a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener in Melbourne, Australia.