Aaron Donald will miss the Los Angeles Rams’ season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, as he continues his return from retirement.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year came out of retirement and rejoined the Rams on August 30, 2026, after missing the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The Rams want to bring him back slowly instead of rushing him into action at age 35. Donald has 111 career sacks in 154 regular-season games, while Garrett has 125.5 sacks in 134 games. Here’s the projected depth charts for the San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams Week 1 matchup : Offense QB: Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke RB: Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black, Jordan James FB: Kyle Juszczyk WR (L/X): Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson WR (R/Z): Deebo Samuel Sr., Jordan Watkins WR (S/slot): De’Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing TE: George Kittle, Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell LT: Trent Williams, Enrique Cruz Jr.
Because of a knee injury, garrett is expected to make his Rams debut after being limited for much of training camp. “I think he’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later. “Wants to be out there. Wants to influence and affect positive change for us. But I think he also understands there’s a necessary ramp up. Aaron Donald ’s absence means fans will have to wait to see him line up alongside Myles Garrett. The two are among the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers. He has also enjoyed getting to know Donald. “You see him on the field, he don’t look like he smiles ever. But, yeah, he has a good sense of humor. LG: Carver Willis, Connor Colby C: Jake Brendel, Jarrett Patterson RG: Dominick Puni RT: Colton McKivitz, Vederian Lowe Defense LDE: Keion White, Khalid Kareem LDT: Osa Odighizuwa, C.J. West RDT: C.J. West / Gracen Halton (Alfred Collins out; James Thompson Jr. also in mix) RDE: Nick Bosa, Romello Height WLB: Dre Greenlaw, Garret Wallow MLB: Fred Warner, Tatum Bethune SLB: Jaden Dugger / Luke Gifford LCB: Renardo Green, Jack Jones RCB: Deommodore Lenoir, Ephesians Prysock NB: Upton Stout SS: Malik Mustapha, Marques Sigle, Ashtyn Davis FS: Ji’Ayir Brown, Siran Neal Special Teams K: Eddy Piñeiro P: Corliss Waitman LS: Jon Weeks PR/KR: Jacob Cowing / Deebo Samuel Sr. (and others) Offense QB: Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett, Ty Simpson RB: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers WR (L/X): Davante Adams, Konata Mumpfield WR (R/Z): Puka Nacua , Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels WR (S/slot): Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith TE: Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Davis Allen, Max Klare LT: Alaric Jackson, David Quessenberry LG: Steve Avila, Bill Murray / Beaux Limmer C: Coleman Shelton, Dylan McMahon RG: Kevin Dotson, Beaux Limmer RT: Warren McClendon Jr. Defense (note: Aaron Donald out) DE: Braden Fiske (starting in place of Aaron Donald), Tyler Davis NT: Poona Ford, Ty Hamilton DT: Kobie Turner, Ty Hamilton / others LOLB: Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart LILB: Nate Landman, Shaun Dolac / Grant Stuard RILB: Omar Speights, Grant Stuard ROLB: Myles Garrett, Desjuan Johnson LCB: Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr. RCB: Trent McDuffie NB: Quentin Lake, Josh Wallace SS: Kam Curl, Jaylen McCollough FS: Kamren Kinchens, Tanner Ingle Special Teams K: Harrison Mevis P: Ethan Evans LS: Joe Cardona PR/KR: Xavier Smith / Jordan Whittington (and others)
Head coach Sean McVay said Donald would not travel to Australia for the long trip. But we’re making a decision that we think is best for him and for our team,” McVay said Tuesday. “He’s as great a competitor as there is,” McVay added. “He smiles more than I thought,” Garrett said.
