Daily News 19

Tag: Aaron Donald

  • Rams Week 1 Injury Report vs. 49ers: Aaron Donald Ruled Out; Myles Garrett Listed Without Designation

    Rams Week 1 Injury Report vs. 49ers: Aaron Donald Ruled Out; Myles Garrett Listed Without Designation

    Defensive end Aaron Donald stands as the sole player on the Los Angeles Rams’ Week 1 injury report ruled out for the 2026 regular season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The remainder of the Rams’ listed players were estimated as full participants during Thursday’s practice and carry no injury designations for the contest, which kicks off at 5:35 p.m. Pacific Time Thursday (10:35 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time Friday) on Netflix.

    Rams Injury Report: Donald Out, Garrett Cleared

    Donald’s absence comes as no surprise. Head coach Sean McVay had already ruled out the perennial All-Pro before the team departed Los Angeles for Melbourne. Meanwhile, outside linebacker Myles Garrett received a clean bill of health, with McVay stating he would be “ready to go” for the season opener.

    Every other Rams player listed on the injury report practiced fully on Thursday and holds no designation, signaling full availability for the historic international matchup.

    49ers Injury Report: Bosa and Kittle Cleared, Collins Out

    San Francisco enters the game with its key stars available. Defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) and tight end George Kittle (Achilles) carry no injury designations, indicating both are good to go.

    However, the 49ers will be without defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who has been ruled out with a knee injury. Defensive tackle James Thompson (hamstring) is listed as questionable, leaving his status uncertain for Friday’s kickoff in Melbourne.

    Final Injury Designations

    Los Angeles Rams

    • Out: Aaron Donald (DE)
    • No Designation (Full Participant*): Myles Garrett (OLB) and all other listed players

    San Francisco 49ers

    • Out: Alfred Collins (DT, knee)
    • Questionable: James Thompson (DT, hamstring)
    • No Designation: Nick Bosa (DE, knee), George Kittle (TE, Achilles)

    NIR = Not Injury Related; * = practice report is an estimation.

  • Rams Expect Puka Nacua, Alaric Jackson to Play vs. 49ers

    Rams Expect Puka Nacua, Alaric Jackson to Play vs. 49ers

    Rams Expect Puka Nacua, Alaric Jackson to Play in Season Opener Against 49ers

    The Los Angeles Rams do not anticipate wide receiver Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson facing suspension for Thursday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, despite ongoing legal matters for both players. Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the expectation Sunday.

    McVay Confirms Availability for Week 1

    “Yeah, absolutely,” McVay said when asked if he expected the pair to be able to face the Niners in Australia. “That’s what I’ve heard. I haven’t heard anything different.”

    The comment aligns with a previous report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Aug. 30, which indicated neither player would be placed on the commissioner exempt list that day, though both cases remained under NFL review.

    Legal Situations Remain Under Review

    Nacua and Jackson have each been involved in separate legal proceedings this offseason:

    • Puka Nacua: In March, a woman in Los Angeles filed a lawsuit alleging Nacua made an “unprovoked antisemitic statement” toward her and later bit her on the shoulder.
    • Alaric Jackson: In June, Jackson was arrested on a domestic violence charge. He was not charged with a felony. In July, his case was referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and assigned to a pre-filing diversion program—an alternative to misdemeanor criminal prosecution for eligible individuals.

    At the start of training camp, McVay acknowledged both situations were ongoing and said the team had been in contact “with both the legal system and the league to be able to get all the necessary information.”

    Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett Practice Status

    McVay did not yet say whether defensive tackle Aaron Donald—who came out of retirement last week after two seasons—would play against the 49ers. McVay confirmed Donald will practice Sunday.

    “We’re truly taking it a day at a time,” McVay said. “I’ll have all those injury updates and stuff like that for you on Tuesday.”

    Defensive end Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will also practice Sunday after missing most of training camp due to knee soreness.

  • Gisele Bundchen Drawn Into NFL Debate Again After Aaron Donald’s Return to the Rams

    Gisele Bundchen Drawn Into NFL Debate Again After Aaron Donald’s Return to the Rams

    Aaron Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams has brought Gisele Bundchen back into the NFL spotlight, reviving comparisons with Tom Brady’s controversial retirement reversal.

    The three-time Defensive Player of the Year ended his retirement after agreeing to a one-year, $20 million contract with the Rams. His wife, Erica Donald, immediately celebrated the decision on social media.

    “I let him out of the house y’all,”

    Erica wrote alongside laughing and heart emojis. NFL insider Clarence Hill Jr. responded by comparing her support with Gisele Bundchen’s public reaction to Brady’s return to football.

    “If only Gisele Bundchen had been equally supportive,”

    Hill wrote.

    Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady retirement debate resurfaces

    The comment reopened debate about Brady’s brief retirement in 2022. Brady initially stepped away from the NFL, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, but reversed the decision six weeks later.

    Bundchen publicly supported Brady at the time, although she later expressed concerns about his return to the NFL. Reports also indicated that the couple were experiencing marital problems before they filed for divorce in October 2022.

    That history gave Hill’s comparison added significance, although Donald’s situation appears to be markedly different.

    Aaron Donald credits Erica with supporting his NFL comeback

    Donald said his return to the Rams would not have happened without his wife’s approval.

    “I think my wife played a huge part in this, me making this decision, period,” Donald said. “Because, if the wife wasn’t happy, it wasn’t gonna get done. We gotta make sure that the household was good. The kid was okay with it all, having them hard conversations, figuring things out. What I wanted to do, if I was gonna do it, how would we do it.”

    He said Erica ultimately gave him her full backing.

    “So, my wife was onboard. She said, ‘If you wanna do this, just put your 100%.’ … She played a huge part in me figuring this out because it really wasn’t an easy decision.”

    Donald first met Erica in 2015 while she was working for the Rams, and the couple later married privately.

    Donald’s comeback may be a personal decision for his family, but one social media exchange was enough to bring Bundchen and Brady’s old retirement drama back into the NFL conversation.

  • Aaron Donald’s Wife Reveals Surprising Reason Behind His Rams Comeback

    Aaron Donald’s Wife Reveals Surprising Reason Behind His Rams Comeback

    Aaron Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams surprised the NFL, but his wife, Erica Donald, has revealed that the comeback was motivated by something more personal than unfinished business on the field.

    Donald retired after the 2023 season following a Hall-of-Fame-level career that included three Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl title. After time away from football, however, the former defensive tackle decided he wanted another chapter with the Rams.

    Aaron Donald’s family helped change his mind

    Erica Donald said retirement gave her husband something he had experienced only occasionally during his playing career: extended time at home with his family.

    “He got a chance to really be a dad,” she said.

    That time away appears to have changed Donald’s perspective rather than completely satisfying his desire to remain retired. His family became an important part of the discussion when he began considering a comeback.

    “The kids were like, ‘Dad, we want to see you play,’” she said.

    Their reaction helped encourage Donald to return to the Rams, the team he represented throughout his NFL career before stepping away from the game.

    Rams legend still had football left in him

    Erica also made clear that Donald had not lost his competitive edge during retirement.

    “He missed football,” she said.

    The combination of family encouragement and Donald’s desire to compete again ultimately convinced him to return. He had previously spoken about wanting to leave football while he could still perform at an elite level, rather than waiting until his body forced him to retire.

    His comeback gives the Rams one of the most dominant defensive players of his generation back in the middle of their front. Questions will remain about how quickly Donald can regain his previous form after time away, but the motivation behind his return appears clear.

    This was not simply about pursuing another contract or adding to an already remarkable résumé. Donald had spent retirement enjoying life as a father, but when his children told him they wanted to see him play again, they helped reopen a door many believed had closed permanently.

  • Aaron Donald Ends Retirement and Teams Up With Myles Garrett on the Rams

    Aaron Donald Ends Retirement and Teams Up With Myles Garrett on the Rams

    Aaron Donald is officially returning to the NFL, rejoining the Los Angeles Rams on a one-year, $20 million contract.

    The move gives the Rams a formidable defensive pairing featuring Donald and Myles Garrett, creating one of the league’s most imposing pass-rushing duos.

    Source: www.tmz.com

  • 2026 Los Angeles Rams: Projecting the Final 53-Man Roster

    2026 Los Angeles Rams: Projecting the Final 53-Man Roster

    The Los Angeles Rams open the 2026 NFL regular season against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Before then, they will play one final preseason game Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers before reducing their roster to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

    Which players will make the team? Which positions feature the most difficult decisions? And where will the Rams be deepest and thinnest this season?

    This 53-man roster projection does not include Aaron Donald, who is currently undergoing a “regimented” process to determine whether he wants to return from retirement. The projection is weighted toward the offense, with six wide receivers, five tight ends and 10 offensive linemen.

    Rams 53-man roster projection

    Quarterbacks (3)

    Matthew Stafford, Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson

    After the Rams selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in April, coach Sean McVay said the rookie and Bennett would compete to become Stafford’s backup. McVay has not announced a winner after two preseason games. This projection keeps all three quarterbacks, with Bennett taking most of the second-team reps during training camp.

    Running backs (4)

    Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, Jarquez Hunter

    Williams and Corum split carries roughly 65-35 last season, with Williams rushing for 1,252 yards and 10 touchdowns on 259 attempts. If both running backs remain healthy, the workload could move closer to an even 50-50 split this season.

    Wide receivers (6)

    Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Jordan Whittington, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, CJ Daniels

    Adams led the league with 14 touchdown receptions last season, while Nacua paced the NFL with 129 catches. Whittington and Mumpfield are likely competing for the No. 3 receiver role behind Adams and Nacua.

    Tight ends (5)

    Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, Max Klare

    Five tight ends on a 53-man roster would be unusual for most teams and for the Rams before last season, but it appears to be the most likely scenario heading into training camp. Los Angeles ran 331 plays in 13 personnel last season, more than twice as many as any other team, according to ESPN Research.

    Offensive linemen (10)

    Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Coleman Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., David Quessenberry, Beaux Limmer, Keagen Trost, Dylan McMahon, Justin Dedich

    The Rams have several unsettled positions on the offensive line because of Jackson’s legal situation and the possibility of a suspension. Trost, a rookie third-round pick, injured his hamstring in the Rams’ preseason opener and could miss several weeks. Dedich missed all of training camp while on the NFI list after injuring his hand in early July.

    Defensive linemen (5)

    Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Tim Keenan III

    Donald’s decision on whether to return would significantly alter this group. The future Hall of Fame defensive tackle retired in March 2024. Turner, a third-round pick in 2023, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and could be a candidate for an extension.

    Linebackers (8)

    Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Desjuan Johnson, Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard

    The Rams made their biggest offseason addition June 1, when they acquired Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, in a trade. Young is also entering the final season of his rookie contract after recording 12 sacks for Los Angeles last season.

    Cornerbacks (5)

    Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Josh Wallace, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cam Lampkin

    The Rams reshaped their cornerback group after last season by trading for McDuffie and signing Watson to a three-year, $51 million contract. Lampkin, who spent most of the past two seasons on the Rams’ practice squad, impressed during training camp.

    Safeties (4)

    Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Jaylen McCollough

    Los Angeles has continuity at safety after signing Lake to a contract extension during the 2025 season and re-signing Curl before free agency began. Kinchens, a third-round pick in 2024, could emerge as a breakout candidate.

    Special teams (3)

    Harrison Mevis (K), Ethan Evans (P), Joe Cardona (LS)

    Special teams was a weakness for the Rams last season, prompting in-season changes at kicker and long snapper. Mevis took over in mid-November, missed only one kick in nine regular-season games and was perfect during the playoffs.

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