Aaron Donald, the legendary Rams defensive tackle, won’t be traveling to Melbourne, Australia, for Thursday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Yep, he’s officially ruled out for Week 1. This is a massive blow for Los Angeles right out of the gate, especially after all the buzz surrounding his comeback.
The Big Comeback Hits An Early Snag
Remember last month when Donald came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams? It felt like a huge win for their defense. But then Monday hit, and Donald was super vague about his travel plans, all while continuing what they called a “progressive conditioning ramp-up.” So, he’s back, but not quite ready to roll for the first game. The whole reason he even decided to return was reportedly the team’s move to trade for edge rusher Myles Garrett, sending Jared Verse to the Cleveland Browns in the deal. Donald even mentioned that having Garrett, alongside Kobie Turner and Byron Young, was a big factor in his decision to step back onto the field. Talk about a plan that’s already hitting a speed bump!
Who Steps Up Down Under?
With Donald sidelined, the Rams are gonna be leaning hard on Myles Garrett to lead that defensive front against San Francisco in Week 1. That’s a lot of pressure for the new guy, even if he’s a beast. Let’s not forget what Donald brings to the table: he retired after the 2023 season as a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time first-team All-Pro, and a 10-time Pro Bowl selection. Plus, he’s got a Super Bowl ring from February 2022. Those are some monster shoes to fill. The travel situation for these two teams has been wild, too. San Francisco flew out last week, getting themselves acclimated to the time change and finishing up preparations on the ground. The Rams? They kept their full training schedule in Woodland Hills, planning to fly in way closer to kickoff. We’ll see if that strategy pays off without their biggest defensive weapon.
The Rams and 49ers are set to kick off Thursday night here in the U.S., which means it’s Friday morning local time in Melbourne. Get ready, because Week 1 is here, and it’s already got some major drama brewing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply