Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett is expected to return from injured reserve this week, setting up his first game action since the season opener and his first appearance alongside defensive lineman Aaron Donald. The pairing has been projected as one of the NFL's most dominant tandems at any position since Donald announced he would come out of retirement for the 2026 season, and the league is about to see whether that billing holds up.

The two stars had to wait until November to suit up together because of how their schedules collided. Garrett played only one game before undergoing knee surgery, while Donald entered the lineup in Week 2.

Garrett said sharing the field with a fellow Defensive Player of the Year winner will be a surreal experience. "Going into this season, I never thought I'd have the chance," Garrett said ahead of Sunday's road game against the Washington Commanders. "As y'all know, he kept us in suspense for quite a while. It was very exciting to hear about that. Looking forward to the opportunity to get on the field and actually play some real snaps with him."

Garrett's arrival in Los Angeles through a blockbuster trade in June helped spark Donald's decision to unretire, so it is fitting that two of the most disruptive players in football history finally get to line up together. Donald has been stronger against the run than as a pass rusher this season, and with Garrett, the single-season sack record holder, back in the fold, their skill sets are expected to complement each other well.

Both defenders have drawn double teams at extreme rates throughout their careers, which could force opposing offensive lines to stay honest with their assignments rather than risk leaving one of them free. "I think offenses really have to pick their poison," Garrett said. "Who's going to be freed up this play? Either of us are pretty good at winning one-on-ones. We'll have some fun."

The timing of Garrett's return could hardly be better for Los Angeles. The Rams are trying to build on a potential midseason turnaround after opening the year with a surprising and deeply disappointing 2-4 record, and they need to keep that momentum going to live up to their Super Bowl expectations.

Garrett was held completely in check in the season-opening blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, a result that looked surprising at the time. Once news of his knee problem emerged, it explained why he finished the game without a single tackle. Garrett said the knee bothered him throughout the contest and kept him from making his usual impact as a first-team All-Pro-caliber force off the edge.

Now healthy, the question is how big a mark Garrett will make on the Rams' elite defense. The former No. 1 overall pick has posted double-digit sacks every year since his rookie season, and last season he broke the NFL single-season record with 23. He is also a force against the run, having led the league in tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons.

There was already one encouraging sign in Week 1 that Garrett will deliver his typical production, and possibly more, in his first season with the Rams. He recorded five quarterback pressures on Brock Purdy in the loss to the 49ers, an 18.5 percent pressure rate across his 39 defensive snaps. Sustained over a full season, that figure would rank as the third-best mark of his career.