After much speculation surrounding defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who put his retirement on hold to rejoin the Rams, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year will not travel with the team to Australia.
"The Rams want to give Donald more time to ramp up before making his much-anticipated return after two seasons of retirement," Schefter wrote.
While the 49ers will avoid facing one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, they will still have to contend with Myles Garrett, whom the Rams acquired in a June trade. Fortunately for San Francisco, it won't have to open the season trying to stop what will undoubtedly be the NFL's most formidable defensive duo.
Donald will likely be suited up when the two teams meet again on December 13 at Levi's Stadium. His Week 1 absence is welcome news, though, considering San Francisco's left guard situation appears shaky. It remains unclear whether second-year offensive lineman Connor Colby or rookie Carver Willis will start at the position.
The 49ers arrived in Melbourne last week, giving the team additional time to acclimate to the significant time difference. The Rams, however, are taking a drastically different approach and are not expected to arrive in Australia until just one day before kickoff.
Donald last played in 2023 and recorded 111 sacks over his 10 NFL seasons.
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