Myles Garrett Injury Update: What Rams Know About His Knee

Myles Garrett’s first training camp with the Los Angeles Rams has hit a pause. The star edge rusher missed a second consecutive practice on Tuesday, August 11, while the team managed swelling in a knee. That makes “Myles Garrett injury update” one of the NFL’s most important late-summer questions—not because a long absence has been announced, but because no public diagnosis or return date has been provided.

The immediate facts call for concern without panic. Garrett was not on the field for the Rams’ joint session with the Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles is handling the situation cautiously. The next meaningful update will be whether he returns to practice, progresses to limited work or remains sidelined as the preseason schedule begins.

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What happened to Myles Garrett?

According to current Rams coverage Garrett missed his second straight practice because of knee swelling. Head coach Sean McVay said the knee was at roughly 85 percent. Garrett had been seen with a sleeve on his left leg, but the Rams have not publicly identified which knee is affected, announced a specific injury or issued a recovery timetable.

That distinction matters. “Knee swelling” describes a symptom, not a diagnosis. It does not establish ligament damage, structural damage or an expected absence. Until Los Angeles provides more information, any claim beyond the reported swelling and missed practices would be speculation.

Why the Rams will be careful

Los Angeles acquired Garrett in a June blockbuster built to raise its championship ceiling. The Rams’ official trade announcement says the club sent Jared Verse and premium draft capital to Cleveland for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett arrived after setting an NFL single-season record with 23 sacks in 2025 and pushing his career total to 125.5.

Those numbers explain why a minor August setback will be managed like a major asset decision. The Rams need Garrett attacking quarterbacks in September and January, not proving his toughness during a joint practice. Football Nation recently examined why Garrett’s résumé already looks Hall of Fame-ready; the priority now is preserving the player capable of extending that run.

What Garrett’s absence changes

The first effect is on the entire pass-rush rotation. Garrett’s speed, power and ability to absorb extra protection create favorable matchups for everyone else. That is especially important for Byron Young, whose contract situation is already a Rams storyline. Without Garrett, Young and the interior rushers must generate more one-on-one disruption on their own.

The second effect is evaluation. Coaches need preseason reps to sort packages, communication and substitution patterns, but Garrett does not need exhibition snaps to prove his résumé. If he remains out, Los Angeles can use the opportunity to test its depth while keeping the larger defensive plan intact. The club’s recent Aaron Donald workout adds intrigue to the front, but it should not be treated as evidence that Garrett’s condition is serious or that a roster move is imminent.

FOOTBALL NATION ANALYSIS

The correct read is “monitor closely,” not “sound the alarm.” Two missed practices and a coach’s 85-percent estimate make this more than a routine veteran rest day. At the same time, there is no announced structural injury, no injured-reserve move and no regular-season availability declaration. The Rams can afford patience now, and their incentives strongly favor it.

The most revealing signal will be Garrett’s practice progression. A return to individual drills would suggest the staff is rebuilding his workload. Continued absence through the next practice block would create a sharper question about the preseason opener and the remaining installation period. Either way, preseason participation is less important than whether he can resume football movement without recurring swelling.

The Rams are also managing other star-level concerns. Puka Nacua left the same joint practice early and Los Angeles must avoid turning one competitive August session into a September problem. On offense, rookie quarterback Ty Simpson’s preseason debut remains a separate evaluation. Those situations reinforce the same principle: August information matters, but health decisions are made for the 17-game season.

What to watch next

Watch for three concrete developments: whether Garrett returns to any portion of practice, whether the Rams provide a formal diagnosis, and whether McVay changes his language from day-to-day management to a defined timetable. If none of those occurs immediately, that does not automatically mean the injury worsened; it may simply reflect the team’s conservative approach with a cornerstone player.

Bottom line

Garrett’s knee swelling is a legitimate Rams concern because he is the centerpiece of a defense built to chase a championship. The available evidence, however, does not support declaring a major injury. Los Angeles is protecting its investment, and the next practice report—not speculation—should determine how much the concern grows.