The future Hall of Famer’s profane response captures the frustration in Los Angeles as Myles Garrett’s knee surgery stalls the NFL’s most anticipated new defensive tandem.
Myles Garrett’s highly anticipated partnership with Aaron Donald will have to wait, and Donald’s immediate reaction to the news showed just how disappointed he was.
Garrett was placed on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery following the Los Angeles Rams’ season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The former Texas A&M star will have to miss at least four games, putting his much-hyped pairing with Donald on hold.
When Donald was asked about Garrett’s injury, the future Hall of Famer had a very simple initial response:
"S***."
Donald then shifted his focus toward what the Rams must do while Garrett recovers. ... starting Monday night against the Giants.
"I think we've got a great defense, a great team, a lot of great pieces," Donald said. "Obviously, I would love for him to be out there, but he won't be gone forever. … Hold it down while he's gone."
That sentiment carries additional weight considering Garrett’s arrival in Los Angeles was one of the reasons Donald decided to come out of retirement. After spending two seasons away from football, Donald returned to the Rams with the opportunity to play alongside Garrett among the factors surrounding his comeback.
For Garrett, the injury is an unfortunate development after an underwhelming debut against San Francisco. He finished the game without a tackle, sack or quarterback hit, and later acknowledged that it was the worst version of himself he had put on the field. Garrett had also dealt with knee issues during the preseason before ultimately undergoing surgery.
The Rams made a significant investment to acquire Garrett from the Cleveland Browns, sending multiple draft picks and Pro Bowl edge rusher Jared Verse to Cleveland. His absence therefore leaves a major hole in a defense that was built with the expectation of having Garrett as one of its centerpiece players.
Texas A&M fans have followed Garrett’s career closely since he became the Aggies’ star pass rusher and eventually the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He has since established himself as one of football’s premier defensive players, including setting an NFL record with 23 sacks in 2025.
Now, Garrett’s priority is getting healthy and returning to the field.
But for the time being, the Rams will have to hope that Donald can be back and better than ever until the Aggies star comes back off the IL.
