The reported level of optimism around the Los Angeles Rams and the potential return of Myles Garrett is growing. The hope is that Garrett is back sooner than later, and though he may not be back in Week 9, he could be back any time after. The Rams will likely need Garrett if they hope to make a serious postseason run.
To be clear, it’s reported optimism with regard to the Rams and Garrett. Until Garrett actually suits up for a game, the team and their fans are going to have to wait. It’s encouraging
that the Rams think Garrett is heading back to the lineup, but it’s speculation. The Rams thought that Garrett’s knee would be fine for the season too, it hasn’t been. All this to say that even if the Rams are optimistic, they can be wrong.
This is a developing situation as time will tell if the Rams optimism pays off, and if it’s fairly placed. Or, if the team’s excitement will lead to more disappointment as the team, the fans and Garrett wait for him to take the field.
LA Rams Get New Myles Garrett Update Before Chargers Game (heavy.com)
“Once again, there is optimism that Myles Garrett returns to practice this week,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on “NFL GameDay” on X on November 1. “I know there was optimism last week. Much more this week. He should practice and should be on the field playing relatively quickly.”
Rams On SI’s Blaine Grisak offered a “key note” in the wake of Rapoport’s latest report.
“Even if Garrett returns to practice, that doesn’t mean he will play vs. WAS,” Grisak posted. “It only means Rams would open up his 21-day window…which would expire after the bye.”
Rams Head Coach Sean McVay Hilariously Says He Will ‘Crush’ Aaron Donald (heavy.com)
“McVay was asked about the play after the game and he said the following: “Aw man, I’m going to give him such a hard time about that. I mean, I saw what he was thinking because it’s going right in front of you and he’s thinking, ‘I’m going to scoop and score,’ and he knocks that [expletive] out of bounds, I mean, what the [expletive]. So, his face he couldn’t even look at me and make eye contact after that.” He also reportedly said, “I’m gonna crush him for that,” per J.B. Long.“
Matthew Stafford and Rams overcome slow start, rally past winless Chargers 24-9 (foxsports)
“INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Donald sprinted after Justin Herbert’s loose fumble with almost nothing but open turf between him and his first touchdown for the Los Angeles Rams.
But footballs bounce funny, and this one skittered out of bounds before the diving, scrambling Donald could scoop and/or score.
The 35-year-old superstar stayed down in exaggerated exhaustion, and his teammates applied some fake first aid before the Rams finished up their victory.
“Oh man, I’m going to give him such a hard time about that,” coach Sean McVay said. “He couldn’t even look at me. At least we can laugh about it right now.”“
3 initial takeaways from Rams’ Week 8 win: offense sputters early, defense locks in (ramblinfan)
“The passing offense was largely ineffective throughout the game. With the exception of a handful of plays, the Rams sputtered. Failing to attempt many runs early in the game allowed the Chargers to control the clock, double the home team in yards gained, and keep the Horns on their heels throughout the first half. Fans didn’t need that type of scare.
Could LA somehow find a way to get back to running the football?
3 initial observations from Rams’ 24-9 win over Chargers
1. Run game fixed early offensive sputters
The Rams ran for miles in Week 7 against the Raiders. But against a similarly poor Chargers run defense, they continued to pass. That’s very questionable play calling, as the offense entered the game without tight ends Colby Parkinson and Terrence Ferguson, or wide receiver Davante Adams.“
Rams send Chargers to 0-7 for first time since Jim Harbaugh was their QB (sports.yahoo)
“The Rams overcame a slow start to beat the Chargers, 24-9, evening their record at 4-4. The Chargers remain the NFL’s last winless team, falling to 0-7.
After some early offensive struggles, the Rams dominated the middle eight minutes of the game to win an ugly one. They scored the go-ahead touchdown just prior to halftime and increased their lead on their opening drive of the second half, keeping the Chargers at arm’s distance for the rest of the game.
It’s the worst start to a season for the Chargers since 2000, when Jim Harbaugh was quarterback.“
Matthew Stafford and Rams overcome slow start, rally past winless Chargers 24-9 (espn.com)
“Herbert has thrown an interception in all seven games this season, but the Chargers also struggled to run the ball. McDaniel, who retained play-calling duties despite the Bolts’ winless start, called back-to-back successful flea-flickers to get the Chargers moving toward their second field goal in the second quarter.
“I think the turnovers are what’s stopping us, and that’s something we have to clean up,” Herbert said. “When we’re not converting on third down and not scoring points in the red zone, it’s tough in that regard.”
The Chargers haven’t scored a TD in their last nine quarters of play, yet the Rams were pretty terrible themselves early on at SoFi.“
Rams Player Facing Potential Discipline From NFL After Chargers Game (heavy.com)
“The Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 could be punctuated by the NFL dishing out punishment for Braden Fiske.
Fiske drew a flag for a penalty that is on the NFL’s list of fineable offenses.
During the fourth quarter on a third-and-9 play from the Rams 41-yard line in the eventual 24-9 victory, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert attempted a pass to running back Kimani Vidal that fell incomplete. Omar Speights was credited with bringing the play to an end.“
Sean McVay’s unusual kicker experiment leaves Rams with little margin for error (sports.yahoo)
“Keep in mind, it’s exceedingly rare for an NFL team to carry two kickers. Roster spots are too valuable. But we’re talking about the Achilles toe of a team with championship expectations.
Sunday’s results were, well, meh.
Karty is still dialing in the so-called “dirty” kickoffs, and two of them fell short of the landing zone — the area between the goal line and the 20 — which gave the Chargers the ball on the 40, prime position to start a drive. And a third kickoff just eked into the landing zone, hitting the ground at the 19.
“Probably the worst kickoff day I’ve had since last year,” said Karty, who until this week had been back at his alma mater, Stanford, working on his kicks. “I think I was trying to do too much on a couple of those.”
2026 NFL season, Week 8: What We Learned from Sunday’s games (nfl.com)
“Rams rumble over Chargers in battle of L.A. Sean McVay’s offense got off to an ugly start, failing to record a first down in its first five drives. The Rams finally broke through with less than 90 seconds remaining in the first half on a Matthew Stafford 40-yard bomb to Tutu Atwell. The home squad skated from there, scoring 21 straight to blow out their SoFi Stadium mates. The Rams came out at halftime and saddled up the rushing attack. After just 10 yards on the ground through two quarters, Blake Corum and Kyren Williams blasted their way for 129 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries for the game. Corum started the second half generating chunk gains, juking defenders out of their shoes. He capped the drive with a 23-yard scamper to give L.A. a lead it wouldn’t relent. Finding paydirt on both sides of halftime seemed to break the Chargers. The successful rushing attack stabilized an offense that was stubbing its toe early. After a wobbly start, McVay’s squad has battled back to .500, with games against Washington and Arizona on tap.“
Defense uplifts Rams as offense struggles in victory over Chargers (ocregister)
““Our mindset every time we touch the field is just to be the best that we can be,” linebacker Omar Speights said. “It doesn’t necessarily matter what the offense got going. It’s just more so about us on defense. The thing we pride ourselves on – getting stops, getting turnovers and getting the ball – that’s just our mentality every time we step out on that field.”
The Rams (4-4) held the Chargers (0-7) to 295 yards of total offense, 54 of which came on a first-half Hail Mary. They stopped the Chargers on 60% of third-down attempts and on the Chargers’ only fourth-down attempt. The Rams only allowed 2.6 yards per carry, with three tackles for loss.“
