The Rams have answered the biggest question around Myles Garrett: yes, he is injured, and the move to Injured Reserve guarantees he will miss at least the next four games after knee surgery.
That decision was made on Thursday, confirming a minimum absence that will take Garrett out of Monday Night Football in Week 2 against the New York Giants and rule him out for games against the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills.
Why Myles Garrett is out
Sean McVay had already signalled that the Rams would not rush the defender back. On Monday, he said he did not want to put a timetable on Garrett's return until he had all the information after surgery. By Thursday, the Rams had officially placed him on Injured Reserve.
McVay said Garrett was feeling good after the operation and noted that he had gone from crutches yesterday to walking without them today. He joked that Garrett was "like Wolverine, healing fast," but the message behind the humour was clear: the Rams are being careful with a player they do not want to force back too soon.
What McVay said about the recovery
The key point from McVay was not urgency, but patience. He said the team is "reluctant to put a timeline on it" and added that "we're not going to rush him back."
He also explained what the Rams need to see before Garrett returns: they want him feeling good, back on the practice field, and able to do all the things required to perform at the level he is used to. McVay said he would keep reporters posted as updates come in.
For the Rams, the immediate reality is straightforward. Garrett will be out for at least four games, and the focus now shifts to how they manage the early part of the season without him. Until there is more information, the answer to "Is Myles Garrett injured" is yes — and the Rams are treating his recovery as a process, not a race.
