In the back of my mind I am wondering, and have been wondering for about a month now, as Garrett continued not even to practice despite having all new schemes to learn and all new teammates to develop chemistry with (!) ... how bad is that knee? Garrett's comments post-game were very discouraging to hear in light of that and only raised my concern level. I know McVay downplayed the severity of the injury throughout training camp. Maybe that was not just coach speak. Perhaps it is a minor ailment. But to be injured before you even start the season is not a good sign. You typically don't get healthier once the real games start and the physical beatings commence. In the back of my mind has always been, and continues to be, this nagging thought, "did we just give up Jared Verse and lots of prime draft capital for damaged goods?". Then you see that week 1 performance. Yikes.
Not panicking yet. But there is some cause for concern, which won't be eliminated for me until I see Garrett playing at a high level.
A banged up knee on a pass rusher is no small issue. Byron Young last year was incredible for the start of the season. He looked way better than Verse for many weeks. After the knee injury he seemed cooked. And Byron himself and/or the Rams staff sure seemed to agree. Because vs. Chicago and Seattle in the playoffs, when you need your studs the most, tight games, crucial downs, etc... his snap % plummeted. I think it was 50% or less vs. the Bears? So they seemed to think more effective options were available off the bench, despite what at the time was middling DE depth. I give BY full credit for playing through. I have no doubt he gave everything he had. But post-injury he looked very ineffective.
BY has been held out of practices too all off-season program and also looked bad. Week 1 and all. Pass rusher health is an issue to watch this year.
