Myles Garrett Set to Return to Rams Practice

Rams fans have been waiting since September for this one. Myles Garrett will return to practice this week, Sean McVay said Monday, the first real step back for the star pass rusher since he landed on injured reserve after arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-September.

McVay was careful not to promise anything beyond that, ESPN reported. Garrett played in the season opener but said afterward he was not 100% healthy, and he had missed most of training camp with what McVay called knee irritation.

No Timeline Yet

Returning to practice opens Garrett's 21-day window to be activated off IR. McVay wants to take it slow.

"I want to be careful to even set any sort of expectations," McVay said. "I think just taking it a day at a time is going to be the best way that we can approach it. Think that's the right thing for him, and really just to see how he responds. But I think it's a real positive that we're starting his clock."

That last line is the one Rams fans will hang onto. Starting the clock means the team believes the knee is ready to be tested against live reps, and a healthy Garrett changes how every offense has to block this front.

More Help Could Be Coming

Garrett may not be the only one back on the field. Tight end Terrance Ferguson, who has missed five straight games on IR after spraining his ankle in Week 3 against Denver, could also return to practice. McVay said it is "looking more likely than not" that the Rams open his window too.

The secondary is the bigger short-term worry. Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson both left Sunday's 24-9 win over the Chargers. McVay said Watson aggravated his previous shoulder injury and will be taken day to day, while McDuffie, who took a knee to the back, came in feeling better than expected.

"We'll see what his status looks like as the week progresses," McVay said of Watson. "Came in, had some good strength, feeling good and optimistic, but we'll kind of take his status a day at a time and see where he's at by the time the game rolls around."

What It Means for Sunday

The 4-4 Rams visit the Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 10 AM PT. Do not expect Garrett in that game. Practicing this week is step one, and McVay would not even put a target date on a return.

What the Rams do have rolling is the ground game. Blake Corum averaged 6.6 yards per carry against the Chargers and has scored at least 13 fantasy points in four straight games while sharing the backfield with Kyren Williams.

Smacktok pick lean: leave Garrett out of your Week 9 plans entirely and lean higher on Blake Corum's rushing yards in Washington, where his recent efficiency makes him the Rams back to trust. The pass rush reinforcements are coming, Rams fans. Just not quite yet.