Aaron Donald to miss Rams' opener against 49ers

The return follows two full seasons away from football

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

Sources: Rams standout DT Aaron Donald will not travel to Australia for Thursday night’s opener against the 49ers and wi Via @AdamSchefter on X

What happened: Los Angeles is keeping Aaron Donald home to extend his ramp-up, according to Adam Schefter and @RapSheet. Thursday night's game is set for Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Why it matters: The decision removes the Rams' listed starter from the defensive front for the first game of 2026. It also pushes his comeback beyond the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia.

By the numbers: Donald has 111 sacks in 10 Rams seasons, with eight first-team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl selections.

What to watch: The next checkpoint is whether Donald progresses enough to make his 2026 debut after the Rams return from Australia.

Sources

@AdamSchefter 2026-09-08T19:57:58.309067+00:00

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NFLBreakingLos Angeles RamsSan Francisco 49ersAaron Donald

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