Some players return from injury quietly. Myles Garrett is not one of them.
In his first game back after missing time with a knee injury, the Los Angeles Rams defensive end treated Sunday’s matchup at Northwest Stadium like his own personal highlight reel. Garrett completely took over, racking up three sacks and a forced fumble to lift the Rams to a 20-13 victory over the Washington Commanders.
The disruption started late in the second quarter. With the Rams looking for a spark, Garrett pressured Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels off the edge, effortlessly slipped a cut block from tight end John Bates, and swatted the ball loose. Linebacker Omar Speights recovered the fumble, instantly flipping the game’s momentum.
When asked about the play after the game, Daniels perfectly summed up the experience of facing the perennial All-Pro.
“I tried to step up, and I’d seen, I want to say, Van [Jefferson] on a corner route, and I was trying to throw it, and then Myles Garrett happened,” Daniels said.
Garrett saved his most lethal move for the fourth quarter. With the Commanders trailing and desperate to keep a late drive alive, Garrett lined up over the middle against rookie center Matt Gulbin, who was subbing in for the injured Lucas Patrick. Rushing from a standing position, Garrett unleashed a devastating NBA-style Eurostep that completely froze the rookie lineman. He blew past Gulbin, drove his facemask into Daniels’ chest, and shoved the quarterback all the way back to the 50-yard line.
That sack set up a crippling fourth-and-17 at the two-minute warning, effectively sealing the game and letting Garrett rightfully declare himself the Rams’ ultimate closer.
