Having expended considerable effort throughout training camp attempting to mitigate Myles Garrett's knee injury, it was ultimately the Los Angeles Rams' woeful season-opening defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers that rendered it manifestly apparent to all that the star defensive end would require surgical intervention.

Garrett registered neither a tackle nor a sack notwithstanding his participation in 61.5% of the defensive snaps throughout the Rams’ 27-7 defeat in Melbourne, Australia.

Coach Sean McVay disclosed on Monday that conversations held with Garrett immediately subsequent to last Thursday’s game had rendered it unequivocally apparent that he could not continue absent an operation.

The Rams may soon receive reinforcement along the defensive line, though it remains uncertain precisely when Aaron Donald will be fit to play.

"We had been cognizant of this, surmised it (Garrett's knee) was something he would be capable of working through," McVay said.

"Manifestly, being out there and playing in a bona fide game, one comes to realize, 'Hey, perhaps that is not the case.

So let us alter our trajectory accordingly.'"

McVay possessed no revised timeline for Garrett's convalescence beyond the four-game minimum incumbent upon placement on injured reserve, contingent upon the outcome of the procedure.

Garrett was absent for the bulk of training camp owing to what has been characterized as swelling in his knee, yet McVay has refrained from elaborating upon the precise nature of the injury.

In June, the Rams procured the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year from the Cleveland Browns in a blockbuster trade involving pass rusher Jared Verse and three draft picks, cognizant that Garrett's workload had been judiciously managed in recent seasons.

Such an arrangement was amenable to McVay, who has habitually curtailed practice time for veteran players in order to optimize their game-day performance.

“The reality is that our mandate is to situate our players and our team in positions conducive to successful outcomes.

We thought we would adopt an approach whereby he would be feeling sufficiently well to go and contribute positive change and be the player that he is capable of being.

That was not the case, and so the next right thing for us is to be able to get this thing fixed,” McVay said.

Garrett evinced no indication of being physically compromised in the lead-up to the game, having characterised himself as “ready” last Tuesday.

“I think I can go out there and do what I know I can do,” he said.

At that press conference, Garrett wholeheartedly embraced the lofty expectations incumbent upon his arrival with the Rams, articulating that his aspirations for the season were to secure a Super Bowl victory and to be named AP Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive time.

It was the acquisition of Garrett that served as the catalyst precipitating the conception of the Rams as a super team, owing in part to the fact that his presence proved instrumental in enticing Donald out of retirement last month.

McVay averred that Garrett’s absence would exert no bearing whatsoever upon the juncture at which the standout defensive tackle shall make his return to the field.

Donald, a three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, did not accompany the team to Australia as he continues his rehabilitation toward regaining playing form following two seasons away from football.

McVay said it was too early to determine whether Donald would feature in the Rams’ home opener against the New York Giants next Monday.

"He is going to continue to work his process, and we will see what that looks like," McVay said.

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