Myles Garrett watches from the sideline with knee swelling, aiming to stay on track at Cowboys-Rams joint practice

Myles Garrett’s holdout from full participation during the Rams’ joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys continued Tuesday, when the Pro Bowl edge rusher watched practice from the sideline for a second straight day. Coach Sean McVay said after the session that Garrett is dealing with swelling in his knee and characterized his status as “85 percent.”

McVay’s update matters because preseason preparation in the NFL is often judged by repetition and continuity, especially for high-snap-impact players. Garrett missed his second consecutive practice, but he was present and able to observe, a detail that suggests the situation is not being treated as a shut-down, even if it has reduced his workload.

The knee swelling puts a spotlight on how the Rams and the Cowboys handled the unusual tempo of joint practices. For Garrett, who is known as a primary pass-rush force, even minor limitation can affect timing with his technique, his ability to accelerate, and the consistency of his first step. McVay’s comments indicated Garrett still expects to be a factor as the preseason moves forward, but the team is evidently balancing that goal against recovery.

While Garrett’s day-to-day readiness is the most immediate storyline, joint practices are also where teams measure their depth and rotation. When a lead player sits out a portion of practice, it typically forces additional reps for backups and run-pass combinations against different looks. Those are practical considerations for both franchises as they evaluate roles for the preseason and beyond, even if Garrett’s exact participation plan remains fluid.

McVay’s “85 percent” description does not provide a timeline for return, and swelling can fluctuate day to day. The most important variable is whether Garrett can resume full practices without the knee issue worsening, because preseason games can expose limitations faster than controlled team drills.

With the next few practices (and eventually the early exhibition games) functioning as the real barometer, the questions to watch are straightforward: Will Garrett be cleared for full participation, and will the defensive scheme allow him to ramp up without restrictions? For now, his presence at practice and McVay’s confidence in his readiness suggest the knee swelling is being monitored closely rather than treated as a setback that derails the broader preseason plan.