The Los Angeles Rams will have to wait a little longer to see Aaron Donald back on the field.
Head coach Sean McVay announced Tuesday that Donald will not travel with the team to Melbourne, Australia, for the Rams’ Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Donald has officially been ruled out of the season opener, delaying his highly anticipated return to the NFL.
Donald shocked the football world last month when he announced that he was coming out of retirement and returning to the Rams. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year had previously retired after the 2023 season, ending one of the greatest defensive careers in NFL history.
However, the Rams have taken a cautious approach with the 35-year-old defensive tackle. Donald has been working his way back into football shape after spending more than two seasons away from the game, and the team does not want to rush his return.
The decision is also understandable given the circumstances surrounding the opener. The Rams are traveling roughly 16 hours to Australia for the historic matchup, making the trip particularly demanding for a player still working his way back into game condition.
“I think he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later,” McVay said, explaining that the Rams believe keeping Donald home is the best decision for both the player and the team.
Donald’s absence means the Rams will have to rely on their revamped defensive front without one of the most dominant defensive linemen of his generation. The team did, however, add another superstar this offseason in Myles Garrett, giving Los Angeles plenty of firepower up front.
For San Francisco, Donald’s absence removes one of the biggest problems from an already difficult matchup. The 49ers will no longer have to prepare for Donald in the first game of the season.
The good news for Rams fans is that this does not appear to be a long-term setback. Donald is expected to continue his ramp-up process with the goal of potentially making his return in Week 2.
After waiting more than two years to see Donald play again, Rams fans will now have to wait just a little longer.
