Sean McVay explains why Chris Garrett has been inactive so often

[theramswire.usatoday.com]
Sean McVay explains why Chris Garrett has been inactive so often

Cameron DaSilva
October 16, 2021 8:01 am PT
Chris Garrett making the Rams’ 53-man roster was a feat in its own right, being a seventh-round pick from a Division II program. He didn’t play in 2020 because the season was canceled, so he had an uphill climb to making the team as a rookie.

It didn’t help that he began the year on the reserve/COVID-19 list, missing the first game of the season before being activated on Sept. 22. But he’s still only played just four defensive snaps and six on special teams, being active for only one game: Week 3 against the Bucs.


He’s been a healthy scratch three times, even with Justin Hollins being out for an extended period of time. It’s somewhat surprising, but McVay had an explanation for reporters Friday when asked about Garrett.

“Seeing progress with him. It’s unfortunate because he was a guy that I thought made so much progress throughout the course of the preseason, and you could really see the influence and the effect that he had on the game, specifically just rushing the quarterback,” McVay said. “And you guys hear me say it all the time, repetition is the mother of learning. He’s a young player that has a lot of upside, but he’s still continuing to learn. And that COVID got him pretty good. He’s recovering, he’s getting back to where he’s getting comfortable and he’s really maximizing his practice opportunities. He’s done a great job in a lot of the look team settings, giving those offensive linemen and tight ends some really challenging looks. He’s getting better and he’s making our team better. Whether or not he ends up being active, there are a lot of things that go into that: our personnel groupings that we’re activating, what’s his contribution in the kicking game, all those types of things. He’s a guy that we still have a lot of confidence in, but that COVID did set him back a little bit. We’re still very optimistic about what he can bring to our football team and whether it’s this week or at some point this year, we’re going to need him.”

Garrett landed on COVID-19 reserve on Sept. 20, so he spent almost three weeks on the sideline because of it. Clearly, that absence impacted him and he’s still getting up to speed in the Rams defense.

He’s currently behind the likes of Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo on the depth chart at outside linebacker, while Justin Lawler has also gotten more opportunities than Garrett despite being on the practice squad.

McVay was asked whether it’s personnel decisions or Garrett getting up to speed that have led to his inactivity, but he pins it on several things.

“It’s all of the above. Personnel groupings, him getting back comfortable in a rhythm and routine, and then just continuing to earn that trust from us as coaches,” McVay said. “But I’ve been pleased with Chris. He’s done a nice job. I wouldn’t look at him not being activated as anything negative other than, ‘Hey, it just kind of hasn’t worked out.’ That’s where some of those fringe spots when you’re talking about that 46th to 48th guy on game day. There’s a little bit of flexibility that is required, and the kicking game has a lot to do with that.”

So it’s not just one thing that has kept Garrett out of action in the first five weeks of his career. It’s a collection of factors, some of which are out of his control.