“The worst version of myself”: Myles Garrett slams performance after poor debut with the Rams
Garrett was held without a tackle as a lingering knee problem overshadowed his first game with Los Angeles
M yles Garrett ’s first game with the Los Angeles Rams was supposed to offer an early glimpse of what their defense could become with one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers on the edge.
Instead, it ended with Garrett delivering one of the quietest performances of his career and openly admitting that his body wasn't where he wanted it to be.
Garrett finished the Rams ’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers without a tackle. He also failed to record a sack or quarterback hit, an extraordinary stat line for a player who set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025.
“This was the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there,” Garrett said after the game. “And I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to find a way to recover and get back to the player I know I can be, and I’ve shown that I’ve been before.”
That admission immediately shifted attention toward the knee problem that interrupted much of his preparation.
Health became part of the battle
Garrett missed significant time during training camp and the preseason because of knee swelling and tendinitis.
He practiced with a sleeve on his left leg, while Rams coach Sean McVay had previously estimated that Garrett was around 85 percent healthy.
After the opener, Garrett made clear that the issue affected more than his explosiveness.
“I was a little bit more focused on myself and trying to stay healthy than what they were doing, and that showed,” Garrett said. “I wasn’t who I needed to be for my team.”
Asked what his priority would be before Week 2, Garrett kept the answer simple: “Getting healthy.”
McVay said after the game that Garrett was 100 percent “to my knowledge,” creating at least some contrast between the team’s public assessment and the player’s own description of his condition.
Rams have to manage expectations with Garrett
San Francisco also deserves credit for making Garrett ’s debut difficult. The 49ers used quick throws and solid pass protection to limit opportunities for him to take over the game.
Veteran left tackle Trent Williams said afterward that he “couldn’t tell” Garrett was compromised because “he’s still really hard to block.”
Garrett didn't use the travel to Australia or the circumstances around the historic matchup as an excuse.
“We got to be better, myself especially,” he said. “We didn’t execute as we wanted to. We got beat on all three phases, and that’s, we have to do more. There’s a lot more on this team that can be done, and it’s tied to us as leaders.”
Los Angeles didn't trade for Garrett because it needed another solid defensive starter. The Rams acquired him because they expect him to change games.
One poor performance doesn't erase the résumé of a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, but his comments make the knee impossible to ignore.
The Rams host the New York Giants next, and the biggest question surrounding their new defensive centerpiece is how quickly can Garrett get back to feeling like himself?
