Rams rule Aaron Donald out for Week 1 in Australia

A 16-hour flight factored into the call.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

.@LindseyThiry gives more detail behind the Rams' "surprising decision" to not play Aaron Donald Week 1 👀 https://t.co/s Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Sean McVay said Donald's ongoing preparation and the lengthy trip factored into the decision. The 35-year-old returned to Rams drills in August after two seasons away from football.

Why it matters: Donald must wait beyond the opener to play his first game since the 2023 season. McVay said confidence in the rest of Los Angeles' defensive front helped make the call.

By the numbers: Donald has 10 Pro Bowl selections and eight first-team All-Pro honors across 10 NFL seasons.

What to watch: His progress toward game readiness will determine whether he returns in Week 2.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-09-08T23:23:33.140761+00:00

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