Josaiah Stewart’s chance after Myles Garrett lands on IR
Josaiah Stewart steps into a higher-visibility role after the Los Angeles Rams placed Myles Garrett on injured reserve, creating an evaluation window that matters for both the 2026 season and longer-term roster planning.
The timing is significant because Stewart is a second-year 2025 third-round pick whose unique usage as a 3-4 outside linebacker gives the Rams a different toolkit opposite Byron Young; the underlying reporting is available from Turf Show Times.
Key Takeaways
- Myles Garrett has been placed on injured reserve and is ruled out for at least four games.
- Josaiah Stewart is a 2025 third-round pick who now has an extended opportunity to prove he can handle a larger role.
- According to Pro Football Focus, Stewart and Abdul Carter led rookie EDGE rushers with a 14.7% pass rush win rate.
- Byron Young is in a contract year and Stewart’s play during Garrett’s absence could simplify the Rams’ retention decisions.
How Josaiah Stewart fits the Rams defense
Stewart is used by the Rams as a true 3-4 outside linebacker who regularly drops into coverage, which separates his role from a traditional hand-in-the-dirt edge defender.
That versatility shows up in game planning: the coaching staff asked Stewart to mix run and pass rushing duties and to take coverage reps, a usage pattern that speaks to structural value beyond pure sack totals.
From a front-office vantage point, a player who can perform across down-and-distance scripts reduces the need for niche depth signings and can impact how the team allocates cap space to rotational pass rushers.
Matchups, technique and Week 1 production
In Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers Stewart played 28 of 64 defensive snaps while Myles Garrett and Byron Young played 40 and 47 snaps respectively; fourth-string Desjuan Johnson played 15 snaps.
Stewart finished that game with a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 75.9 and posted a coverage grade of 80.6, evidence he can handle the team’s coverage responsibilities in addition to edge work.
Technically, Stewart brings more physicality to the point of attack while Young projects as a speed-first option; that contrast allows the Rams to deploy complementary pass-rush packages rather than redundant skill sets.
Snap counts, PFF grades and usage comparison
| Player | Week 1 defensive snaps | PFF defensive grade | Coverage snaps noted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josaiah Stewart | 28 of 64 | 75.9 | 3 plays | Used as a 3-4 OLB with mixed run/pass responsibility |
| Myles Garrett | 40 | — | 0 plays | Did not drop into coverage in Week 1 |
| Byron Young | 47 | — | 4 plays | Speed-oriented edge option and co-starter |
| Desjuan Johnson | 15 | — | — | Fourth-string rotation player |
For context, Pro Football Focus credited Stewart and Abdul Carter with a 14.7% pass rush win rate among rookie EDGE rushers, a baseline that underlines Stewart’s early efficiency as a pass rusher.
Roster construction and Byron Young contract year
From a roster-construction perspective, Garrett’s injured reserve designation creates a measurable evaluation window where Stewart can increase his sample size against starters and high-leverage snaps.
Byron Young entering a contract year complicates planning; if Stewart sustains efficiency and demonstrates the coverage chops the staff expects, the front office gains leverage and clearer choices when weighing a second contract offer for Young.
Evaluators inside the building will weigh three factors: play-to-play effectiveness, scheme fit as a 3-4 OLB, and how an internal promotion impacts the depth chart without requiring external cap spending. Photo credit Brooke Sutton/Getty Images.
