Myles Garrett's injury could dig Rams an early hole it would be hard to escape

Myles Garrett's nightmare Los Angeles Rams debut has taken a turn for the worse. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reports that the Rams star will have arthroscopic knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve. The earliest Garrett could return is Week 6 against the Cardinals. 

Ouch. Rams fans are going to need a minute on this one. 

The news comes at a horrific time for the team. Instead of capitalizing on a bounceback chance against the Giants, Garrett will miss that game and three more in a brutal stretch of early-season schedule. Relative to expectations, this is effectively the worst-case scenario.

Rams lose Myles Garrett amid daunting early-season schedule

After hosting the Giants in Week 2, LA travels to Denver, then Philadelphia, then plays the Bills at home. Oof. That was never going to be easy. Now, the Rams will be without the prize of the NFL offseason.

Garrett's postgame comments proved to be a harbinger. After being neutralized against the 49ers, he said getting healthy was his top priority entering Week 2. 

That revelation was not a shocker. Garrett missed part of training camp with knee soreness and swelling. He clearly wasn't himself in Week 1.

That he will require surgery, on the other hand, is a dismal surprise. Say the Rams take care of business in their return to SoFi Stadium. How many wins in their next three games? 
The pass rush was abysmal against the 49ers. Byron Young, Garrett's counterpart, was embarrassed. San Francisco gouged the Horns in the run, where Garrett provides elite reinforcement. 

And it's not just the loss of Garrett. The defense no longer has Jared Verse, traded to the Cleveland Browns along with draft assets, in his place. Sophomore Josaiah Stewart just went from exciting rotation player to a primary starter. 

Yes, Los Angeles should benefit from positive regression on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Matthew Stafford just had his worst game in four years. He'll be better. Young, nose tackle Poona Ford, and safety Kam Kinchens all have massive room to improve from letdown Week 1 performances.

Even so, the Rams looked so alarmingly flat and discombobulated that it may take several weeks to get in sync. A 1-2 mark in the three games ahead feels realistic. There's a world where this team starts 1-4 entering a soft patch of schedule in the middle, before a grueling slate following a Week 11 bye. 

Will Garrett return when first eligible, after a minimum four-week stay on IR? Right now, his timetable is a looming unknown. In the competitive NFC West, a slow start would likely be a death sentence to reclaiming the division crown.

Of course, only one game has been played. We don't know how the next four will turn out, much less the entire season. Even missing Garrett, the Rams are stacked with playmakers. Head coach Sean McVay will keep his players immersed in the present. 

Still, it's hard to imagine a more disastrous start to the season than what the Rams have encountered. Overly reactionary? Perhaps. Even now, Andrew Whitworth's advice is worth heeding. 

But it would be naive to observe the Rams' Week 1 showing, followed by Garrett's injury, and conclude that we don't need to adjust expectations. Let's face it. At least in the regular season, the team's ceiling feels significantly lower than a few days ago, and so does the floor. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow