Aaron Donald unretiring and rejoining the Los Angeles Rams has every NFL fan itching to see if he's still got it. A 10-time Pro Bowler and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, lining up on the same defensive line as Myles Garrett is borderline terrifying to think about. But with just under a week before the 2026 season kicks off, the next question has become: when will we actually get to see Donald take the field?
Rams head coach Sean McVay provided the latest update on Friday, saying that he expects all of his players to travel with the team for their season opener against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Donald's status for that game is still TBD, though, with McVay noting that he "doesn't have that sense quite yet" as to whether Donald will play. More news: Seahawks’ Leonard Williams Sends Loud Warning to Aaron Donald, Rams The Rams cruised through the preseason, going 3-0 against the Chiefs, Saints, and Chargers — and that was with all of their starters sitting.
San Francisco has one of the more talented rosters in the league, but even without Donald, the Rams should like their chances in that matchup. Matthew Stafford is coming off the best season of his career, while Puka Nacua and Davante Adams lining up together present challenges for even the best secondaries. The Rams also enter 2026 with a legitimate 1A and 1B in the backfield in Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.
More news: Key Member of 49ers’ Pass-Rush Didn’t Travel to Australia for Rams Clash More news: Ravens GM Drops Telling Comment on Lamar Jackson’s Future in Baltimore Defensively, the line already features Garrett, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner, along with veteran Poona Ford at tackle. Donald was expected to slot into that role, but if he can't go, McVay and his staff should still feel confident with what they have. Last season with the Rams, Ford posted 47 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and two sacks across 17 games with 10 starts.
Donald is expected to travel to Australia for Week 1, but fans will have to wait to see whether he actually suits up. Kickoff is set for 8:35 p.m.
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