The Los Angeles Rams are literally preparing for two different Week 1 teams right now, and it all hinges on one guy: Aaron Donald. Sean McVay, their head coach, has confirmed they have plans for the superstar defensive tackle if he’s on the roster, and completely separate plans if he’s not. Talk about keeping your options open, right?
The Ultimate Contingency Plan: Two 53-Man Rosters
McVay laid it all out Tuesday, straight up telling the Los Angeles Times, “We’ve had plans if he’s there, and if he’s not.” He wasn’t kidding either. He’s talking about crafting *two distinct 53-man rosters*: one with Donald, and one without him. Can you even imagine the logistics of that? This isn’t just a minor tweak; this is a fundamental shift in how you build your squad. It shows you how massive Donald’s presence is, that his potential absence forces a whole re-evaluation of the team.
The media, including Turf Show Times, has been buzzing about Donald all offseason. Will he revise his contract? Does he even *want* to come back and tackle another grueling NFL season? Everyone’s got a “take” on whether he’ll be back early, later, much later, or never. But let’s be real, nobody actually knows a darn thing except Donald himself. He’s going to make his decision on his own time, and until then, it’s just pure speculation, which won’t stop the Rams from getting ready. This kind of heavy-duty contingency planning is common in the NFL during roster cuts, but for a “franchise legend” like Donald? That’s unique. For the Rams, it’s business as usual outside of this monumental decision.
Week 1 Looms And The PUP List Twist
Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers is coming up fast. We’re talking 17 days until that Australia game, according to PFT Live’s tweet from August 24. And frankly, it’s starting to *feel* like Donald might not be out there for that opener. So, what’s a team to do? Mike Florio and Chris Simms from PFT floated a wild scenario that could split the difference: Donald re-signs, but then gets immediately placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Think about that for a second. He’s technically back, but not playing. He could work out on his own, sure, but couldn’t practice with the team until they open a three-week practice window. After *that*, there’s a whole “ramp-up period” before they even *think* about activating him to the 53-man roster. This isn’t some quick fix; this is a delayed entry, almost like a mid-season call-up. It buys time, but it definitely means he’s not busting through the line against the 49ers in Australia on Day 1.
So, the Rams are staring down Week 1 with a gigantic question mark hanging over their head. Will Aaron Donald be there, or won’t he? Sean McVay is doing everything he can to prepare for either reality, but the clock is ticking, and that Australia game is closing in fast. The entire league is watching what Donald does next, and the Rams are just trying to figure out which 53 guys will actually hit the field. This decision, whenever it comes, is going to define their early season for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
Leave a Reply