Myles Garrett said he needs to return to his previous level after a challenging first game with the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams opened the 2026 season with a 27-7 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on Thursday, with Garrett failing to record a tackle, sack or quarterback hit.
The 30-year-old defensive end joined Los Angeles in the offseason after the Rams acquired him from the Cleveland Browns. A knee problem reduced his training-camp workload, and Garrett said he was not yet performing at the level he had reached before.
He accepted responsibility, saying the outing did not represent his standard and that he must improve, recover and work his way back to the player he has demonstrated he can be.
Garrett, a former Texas A&M player and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, produced 23 sacks in 2025, an NFL record, while earning his second award. The Rams had obtained him to anchor a defense on a team viewed as a Super Bowl contender.
Los Angeles is scheduled to face the New York Giants in Week 2, when Aaron Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to make his season debut. No further details about Garrett's recovery were provided.