The Rams' defense is improving even without Myles Garrett, and now he's coming back from injury

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Myles Garrett still hasn't had a sack or even a tackle for the Los Angeles Rams as they hit the halfway point of the regular season.

With Garrett finally returning to practice this week after a seven-game absence with a knee injury, the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year will rejoin a defense that's been improving and thriving while it waited for the Rams' blockbuster offseason addition to join the fun.

The Rams (4-4) kept their opponent out of the end zone for the second time in three games Sunday during their 24-9 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The Rams' defense has allowed just two TDs during this three-game stretch — both in the fourth quarter of a blowout win in Vegas — and has moved into fifth in the NFL with just 301 yards allowed per game.

The defense took charge against the Chargers while the Rams' offense had one of its worst halves in coach Sean McVay's career, starting the game with five consecutive three-and-outs featuring just 24 total yards. The defense made a takeaway and limited the Bolts to three field goals before Matthew Stafford's unit finally got moving.

“What a great job by our defense keeping us in it," McVay said. “Really couldn’t have started any worse offensively. We didn’t even get a first down until the two-minute (warning) at the end of the first half, but defensively, kept getting stop after stop.”

The defense put together this dominant three-game stretch without Garrett and with only about one half of play from star cornerback Trent McDuffie, who missed the first two games with a groin injury. McDuffie returned and made an interception against the Bolts before leaving again with a back injury that doesn't appear to be serious.

The Cardinals, Raiders and Chargers don't provide the toughest three-game stretch of a season for any defense, but after the Rams were shredded by Brock Purdy and Josh Allen earlier this season, they clearly needed this break to regain their confidence in a group that was retooled in the offseason to compete with the league's best teams.

“We're at our best when we face adversity, and no task is too big for us,” said Byron Young, the Rams' sacks leader. “We've started playing more together as well, and you can see it in these last few games.”

Garrett's imminent return from knee surgery will make this unit reasonably whole if it also has McDuffie and cornerback Jaylen Watson, who aggravated a nagging shoulder injury against the Chargers. McDuffie and Watson both arrived in the offseason to shore up the Rams' most vulnerable position, and they've perhaps been the defense's two best players when healthy.

And when Garrett gets back, he'll finally get to play with Aaron Donald, who has slid right back into a prominent role on LA's defense after 2 1/2 years of retirement. While Donald doesn't have a sack in six games, he has been strong on the interior line while helping to make up for the absence of nose tackle Poona Ford.

The Rams' secondary is significantly improved even when McDuffie and Watson are slowed by injuries, and it creates a ripple across the entire defense. Do-it-all defensive back Quentin Lake had an interception during another big game in which he played every snap, while backup cornerbacks Emmanuel Forbes and Josh Wallace stepped up at key moments. The Chargers had 257 yards passing, but they were largely empty calories.

The Rams' passing game struggled again whenever the ball wasn't headed to All-Pro Puka Nacua. Stafford passed for a meager 157 yards and threw a bad interception while trying to force the ball to Konata Mumpfield, who didn't have a catch. The Rams also aren't throwing to running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum as frequently as they did earlier in the season, although McVay attributes that deficiency strictly to situational decisions.

Blake Corum had his second straight outstanding game, rushing for 73 yards on 11 carries — with 55 of those on a tone-setting drive out of halftime highlighted by his 23-yard TD romp. Corum looked shifty and speedy against his former Michigan coach's team, breaking tackles and ankles.

McVay insists the Rams aren't looking to trade for a veteran wide receiver even though Mumpfield hasn’t yet seized the opportunity to be the No. 2 receiver in Davante Adams’ absence. Tutu Atwell’s speed is clearly more threatening to defenses, and he had two catches against the Chargers — but McVay is still reluctant to put the undersized veteran on the field regularly.

Garrett returns to practice this week, and the Rams appear to be leaning toward opening the practice window for TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle) as well. ... TE Colby Parkinson is “making really good progress” after missing Sunday's game with a rib injury, McVay said.

25 — Offensive snaps played by rookie tight end Max Klare in his first significant NFL action. McVay finally got his second-round pick on the field and liked what he saw.

The Rams have back-to-back road games heading into their shortened bye week, traveling to Washington this weekend and to Arizona next week for a Cardinals rematch. Getting two more wins in this soft part of the schedule seems vital, both for their playoff hopes and for figuring out how they'll attack a tougher slate in December.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay answers questions after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay signals from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Spanish police investigating possible involuntary manslaughter after soccer player dies following on-field collision.

THIS IS AN APNewsAlert. Check back for updates. AP's earlier story is below.

Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel has died after he suffered cardiac arrest from an on-field collision in a Spanish second-division match, his club said Tuesday. He was 30.

De Miguel was challenging for the ball near midfield on Monday when he was struck in the chest by the onrushing Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during added time.

Owono was shown a straight red card for the incident.

De Miguel was taken to a hospital and the match, tied 2-2, was abandoned after the incident.

Tenerife said in a statement to Spanish media late Monday that De Miguel suffered cardiac arrest but that his pulse was restored in the ambulance to the hospital. However, it later said his condition had “worsened neurologically” and subsequently announced that De Miguel had died at 8 a.m.

The club located on Spain's Canary Islands said it was “heartbroken.”

De Miguel, a Madrid native, made his professional debut in 2015 with Leganés B and has since played for a number of lower-divisions clubs in Spain. He joined Tenerife last year.

“There are no words of comfort,” the club statement read. “There is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this profound sense of sorrow. We stand with his devastated family, his loved ones, and the entire Tenerife community.”

The heavy collision happened when Owono rushed out of his area all the way to midfield to challenge for a long ball that De Miguel was trying to reach.

De Miguel initially curled on his knees, clutching his torso for a few seconds, before he fell over onto his back, with his arms falling to his sides.

Owono was walking off the field after being shown the red card but turned around and joined the other players rushing to check on De Miguel.

Andorra, which is owned by former Barcelona star Gerard Pique, also offered its condolences, along with other clubs, the Spanish soccer federation and La Liga.

“We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jesús de Miguel, to all his colleagues and friends, and to CD Tenerife. May he rest in peace,” Andorra said in a statement.

The players of Real Madrid held a minute of silence for De Miguel during training, while fellow topflight club Espanyol postponed the presentation of its new coach.

English clubs Manchester United and Liverpool joined in offering their condolences on social media.

The Spanish soccer federation postponed two Copa del Rey matches and one Copa de la Reina matches to be held later on Tuesday.

Life-threatening injuries from collisions in soccer are extremely rare.

Last year in Spain, a 19-year-old goalkeeper died from head injuries suffered during a collision in a fifth-division match. Colindres goalkeeper Raúl Ramírez had two cardiorespiratory arrests, one on the field and then in the ambulance while being transported to a hospital. He was declared brain dead two days later.

In 2001, Ukrainian goalkeeper Serhiy Perkhun was playing for CSKA Moscow when he died from head injuries received in a collision during a match.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Andorra players react after FC Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel collides with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono reacts after colliding with FC Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

Players from Andorra and Tenerife react after Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel collides with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

FC Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, left, duels for the ball during a soccer match against Andorra in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)

FC Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel is carried on a stretcher after colliding with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a soccer match in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. (AP Photo)