‘You’ll Have a Season With Great Shame’ — Cowboys Legend Michael Irvin Tears Into Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald After Rams’ Week 1 Debacle
· Yahoo Sports
The NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia was a one-sided affair, with the San Francisco 49ers rolling past the Los Angeles Rams 27-7.
Michael Irvin witnessed the game closely as a studio analyst for Netflix. In the wake of that loss, the Dallas Cowboys legend delivered a blunt warning to Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald.
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Michael Irvin Warns Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald After Rams’ Week 1 Loss
During the game, Garrett struggled to make an impact, as the 49ers controlled the game on the ground and repeatedly exposed Los Angeles in the trenches.
He played 40 snaps without recording a tackle or quarterback hit in his debut with the Rams.
After the game, Garrett revealed the context behind his quiet debut. He said he was not fully fit and was playing with a lingering lower-leg and knee problem that restricted him during training camp.
Meanwhile, Donald didn’t appear in Week 1. The Rams believed the game arrived too quickly for the defensive tackle, who ended his retirement on Aug. 30 by signing a one-year, $20 million contract.
However, Irvin believes Los Angeles needs both stars available and producing soon. Otherwise, the team could struggle to live up to the massive expectations surrounding its defense.
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“Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett, gotta get your [expletive] some work, man, or this is going to be the longest season for a super team that we have ever seen,” Irvin said on his YouTube channel.
“Great names to have on your roster, but they gotta get their great games to go with those great names, or you’ll have a season with great shame. That’s all I’m saying to you, Rams fans.”
Garrett already knows what he needs to fix before the Rams face the New York Giants in Week 2. In the postgame, he revealed he is focusing on “getting healthy.”
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On the other hand, Los Angeles wants Donald, 35, to rebuild his conditioning and see how his body responds once he returns to football action.
That approach explains why head coach Sean McVay kept Donald in Los Angeles instead of sending him on the 16-hour journey to Australia. McVay also insisted the veteran remains close to making his return.
“He’s doing a great job,” McVay said. “I think he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later, but we’re making a decision that we think is best for him and for our team. He’s attacked this the right way, but it would have been a really quick turnaround.”
For now, the Rams would rather avoid rushing a player they expect to have a bigger role later in the season. But the question remains the same: when will Donald finally suit up?
McVay didn’t provide any return date, but Los Angeles hopes to have him against the New York Giants on Sept. 21 at SoFi Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.