Rams’ Aaron Donald not flying to Australia, out for Week 1 vs. 49ers

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay had kept the door open for legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald to participate in the season-opening showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, with early expectations suggesting that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year would at least join the team for their historic trip to Melbourne, Australia.

However, those travel plans have now been officially scrapped, delaying the future Hall of Famer’s much-anticipated return to the field. Instead of boarding the team’s long-haul flight across the Pacific, Donald will remain in Los Angeles to continue his physical conditioning.

In a major update on the roster, ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, along with NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, that Donald will not travel to Australia for the Thursday night opener against the 49ers and will be inactive. They stated, “Sources: Rams standout DT Aaron Donald will not travel to Australia for Thursday night’s opener against the 49ers and will be inactive. The Rams want to give Donald more time to ramp up before making his much-anticipated return after two seasons of retirement.”

Keeping Donald out of this game protects the 35-year-old superstar from an unnecessary physical setback after nearly 1,000 days away from live football action. While fans will have to wait a little longer to see him disrupt opposing offenses alongside newly acquired pass rusher Myles Garrett, the organization remains enthusiastic about the future. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula expressed his excitement about Donald’s work ethic and leadership, praising how coachable the veteran lineman has been. He noted that he is “extremely excited” to unleash one of the greatest defenders in NFL history once Donald is fully ready.

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