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Sean McVay Reveals Rams’ Week 1 Plan for Aaron Donald
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- Sean McVay Reveals Rams’ Week 1 Plan for Aaron Donald
Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald's status for Week 1 is still unclear heading into the start of the season.
Donald is just days away from returning to the NFL after two years of retirement. He left the sport while still playing at the league's top level, but with little left to prove and struggling to find the fire to compete.
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After seeing the talent the Rams brought in, like Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, and with the Rams pushing their chips in for a title, Donald saw the right circumstances for a return.
He was diligent about whether he could return, testing his body on and off the field to see how it responded to the demands of playing football.
Aug 30, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay at press conference at the Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Eventually, Donald felt he could return as some version of his former self, and he signed a one-year deal with the Rams.
What is Aaron Donald's status for Week 1?
Since signing, Donald has started practicing and working with the team, but because he signed at the end of August and has missed so much time, his return to an NFL game is unclear.
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"If he feels good enough to go, great," Rams head coach Sean McVay said of Donald's status for Week 1. "If not, I've got a lot of confidence in the other guys that'll be ready to step up if that's the case, who have really gotten all the reps anyway."
According to McVay, the upcoming week ahead of Week 1 will be a "big week" to determine how Donald feels.
Aug 30, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) reacts at practice at the Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
What will the Rams do with Aaron Donald next?
Donald will be put through the paces, but the Rams will have plans whether he can or can't go.
"What I think is really good for us is if he's able to go, great. If not, that's kind of how we've been operating as is," McVay explained.
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"And guys have done an excellent job of being able to do some really cool stuff in the meantime. And so, if he's not ready and that's not what's best for him and for the team, absolutely wouldn't have him playing Australia unnecessarily."
Whether it comes in Week 1 or down the road, Donald will be traveling with the team to Australia, and it is only a matter of when, not if, he makes his debut.
The post Sean McVay Reveals Rams' Week 1 Plan for Aaron Donald appeared first on LA Sports Report .
