The Los Angeles Rams entered the new NFL season with high expectations as Super Bowl favorites. However, their start was rocky. They suffered a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL International Series game held in Melbourne, Australia.
This match marked the debut of several key Rams players. Among them was Myles Garrett, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who joined to strengthen the defense. Unfortunately, Garrett’s performance was hampered by an injury he had struggled with during the offseason. His impact on the game was minimal, as he alternated between the field and the sidelines.
Another notable player, cornerback Trent McDuffie, recorded four tackles and defended two passes. Rams safety Quentin Lake stood out with 10 total tackles, seven of which were solo, and an interception.
“This was the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there, and I’ve got to be better,” Garrett stated following his performance.
Garrett participated in about 40 snaps but did not manage to record any substantial stats in the final box score. This was unexpected from a Defensive Player of the Year, especially as the Rams were favorites by over three points among many sportsbooks.
The game also saw San Francisco’s Brock Purdy, despite an interception, achieve 25 completions out of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Remarkably, it was the first time since 2018 that Garrett failed to put pressure on a quarterback in a game.
Garrett admitted he was not fully healthy due to knee swelling, which was confirmed by Rams’ head coach Sean McVay. Garrett, having missed training camp, noted that the lingering injury impacted his gameplay. He expressed that his focus was more on maintaining his health than on the opposing team’s actions, hindering his expected performance.
Contributing to the Rams’ struggles was the absence of Aaron Donald, another anticipated defensive star, who missed the trip to Australia. Donald, who retired in March 2024, is still working on his return.
Myles Garrett and the Rams will aim to recover from this defeat when they face the New York Giants at home on Monday, September 21.
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