Why Aaron Donald is not traveling with LA Rams to Australia amid highly anticipated NFL return
· Yahoo Sports
Aaron Donald will not travel with the Los Angeles Rams to Australia for their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers as the team takes a cautious approach to his highly anticipated NFL return.
Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed Tuesday that the 35-year-old defensive tackle will miss Thursday’s game in Melbourne and will not even make the trip with the team.
Visit bettingx.bond for more information.
Donald only officially returned to the Rams on August 30 after two seasons away from the NFL.
He did not take part in his first 11-on-11 team drill until Sunday, leaving very little time to prepare for an international Week 1 game.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty ImagesSean McVay explains why Aaron Donald will miss Rams vs 49ers
McVay believes Donald could be ready to play sooner rather than later, but rushing his comeback for such a demanding trip was not considered worthwhile.
“He’s doing a great job,” McVay said, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “I think he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later, but we’re making a decision that we think is best for him and for our team. … He’s attacked this the right way, but it would have been a really quick turnaround.”
The decision also means Donald will avoid spending roughly 30 hours on planes over the course of the Australia trip, something the Rams clearly did not want to put their returning star through so soon after retirement.
Donald has already offered some encouragement since returning to the team. Asked about how his first few days back had gone, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year said: “It’s been good. It’s better than what I thought it would be, honestly. Things have been clicking a little bit faster. Feeling good, knocking the rust off.”
Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesMcVay has also avoided putting a firm date on Donald’s return, saying he did not want to “put any sort of expectations” on the comeback.
For now, Donald’s next realistic opportunity could come in Week 2 against the New York Giants on Monday, September 21. The Rams will take their time with their defensive superstar rather than risk rushing one of the biggest NFL comebacks in recent memory.
Read more: