The Los Angeles Rams made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason when they acquired superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns, giving Sean McVay's defense one of the league's most dominant game-wreckers.
Expectations immediately soared after Garrett arrived in Los Angeles following another Defensive Player of the Year campaign, with many viewing the Rams as legitimate Super Bowl contenders because of the blockbuster addition. That's why Tuesday's joint practice against the Dallas Cowboys came with some disappointing news.
Garrett was once again absent from practice, prompting questions about his status as the regular season continues to draw closer. After the session concluded, McVay offered an update that should provide some reassurance while also explaining why the Rams decided to keep their biggest defensive star on the sideline.
Sean McVay Explains Myles Garrett's Absence
Garrett missed his second consecutive practice as the Rams held a joint session with the Cowboys on Tuesday.
Following practice, McVay revealed the reason behind the decision.
The Rams head coach said Garrett is dealing with swelling in his knee, leading the team to take a cautious approach by holding him out of practice.
McVay added that Garrett told him he currently feels like he's "85 percent."
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the update was McVay's emphasis that there have been no setbacks during Garrett's recovery process.
Instead, Los Angeles simply chose to err on the side of caution rather than push one of its most valuable players through training camp reps.
The veteran edge rusher also missed multiple practices last week because of what McVay previously described as lower-body soreness.
Rams Continue Playing the Long Game
While Garrett's absence naturally draws attention, the Rams appear focused on ensuring he's healthy for the games that matter most. Joint practices provide valuable competition, but they don't carry the importance of regular-season contests.
That's especially true for a player of Garrett's caliber.
The nine-time Pro Bowler is coming off another dominant season in which he recorded 23 sacks, setting the NFL's single-season sacks record before being traded to Los Angeles during the offseason.
Over nine NFL seasons, Garrett has amassed 125.5 career sacks while establishing himself as one of football's most disruptive defensive players.
The Rams didn't acquire Garrett to dominate August practices, they brought him in to help lead a championship run.
As long as the swelling subsides and no additional issues develop, Tuesday's absence is unlikely to significantly alter those expectations.
Still, with the regular season quickly approaching, Garrett's status will remain one of the biggest storylines surrounding the Rams.
For now, McVay's comments suggest optimism rather than concern, but Los Angeles will undoubtedly continue monitoring the situation closely before deciding when its newest superstar is ready to return to full participation.
