The NFL world woke up on September 13, 2026, to a headline nobody saw coming - and one that has completely flipped the script on the LA Rams' season just one week in.
Myles Garrett, the crown jewel of the Rams' defense after a blockbuster offseason trade from Cleveland, is heading to injured reserve. Multiple reports say the star edge rusher will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and miss at least four weeks. It's the first significant chapter in what's quickly becoming the NFL's most talked-about story.
So what is really going on? And more importantly, what happens next - for Garrett, for the Rams, and for a fanbase that just watched its team get "fleeced" in the court of public opinion? Let's break down Myles Garrett: what is really going on and what happens next in NFL football, because this one has layers.
What Is Really Going On: Surgery, IR, and a Bad Week in LA
The facts, as of today: Garrett struggled mightily in the Rams' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers - a game where he clearly wasn't himself. The knee issue, it turns out, wasn't a mystery hamstring tweak or a veteran maintenance day. It's serious enough to require arthroscopic surgery, and serious enough that LA is shutting him down for at least a month. Per reports from CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports, the procedure is set and the IR designation is locked in.
📊 At least 4 weeks - Garrett's minimum absence on injured reserve, per multiple September 13 reports.
The timing couldn't be worse. The Rams just gave up major draft capital to pry Garrett out of Cleveland. And while the internet loves a good overreaction, the "Browns fleeced the Rams" takes aren't coming from nowhere - HITC reported Sunday that fans were already roasting LA's front office over the deal.
In Cleveland, the mood couldn't be more different - and somehow also worse. The Browns are kicking off their home opener today against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium with Deshaun Watson already throwing what SB Nation called a "predictably awful" interception on the first drive. A rookie class is being asked to carry real weight. The Garrett trade was supposed to be the Rams' win-now move. Week 1 has turned it into a question mark.
Why the "Fleece" Narrative Is Overblown - For Now
Here's the truth: four weeks is not a lost season. Garrett is an All-Pro caliber game-wrecker, and rushing him back for a Week 2 appearance he can't physically handle would be malpractice. The Rams' medical staff is being cautious, and they should be.
| Story | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Myles Garrett knee surgery | Rams | IR, 4+ weeks |
| Deshaun Watson early INT | Browns | Home opener vs. Jaguars |
| Christian Mahogany injury | Lions | Left Week 1 vs. Saints |
| Cooper Rush named Week 1 starter | Falcons | Tua (oblique) out |
| D'Andre Swift extension | Bears | 3-year deal |
The real test is what LA's defense looks like without its best player - and whether the rest of the roster can hold the line until he returns.
What Happens Next: Timeline, Rams Fallout, and the Leaguewide Ripple Effect
The reported timeline is at least four weeks on IR, which puts Garrett's earliest possible return somewhere in early-to-mid October. Arthroscopic knee surgery is typically less invasive than a full reconstruction, so there's legitimate optimism he's back before midseason. But "at least" is doing heavy lifting in these reports.
For the Rams, the next month is a survival mission. Week 1 already exposed cracks - the 49ers moved the ball at will, and Garrett was a non-factor. Without him, the pass rush becomes a committee effort, and defensive coordinators across the NFC West smell blood.
