49ers fans got a break before the season even kicked off.
Aaron Donald will not be on the field for the Los Angeles Rams in their Week 1 matchup with San Francisco, Sean McVay said Tuesday. Donald also will not travel with the team to Australia, despite earlier expectations that he might be ready for the opener.
The Rams had been handling Donald’s return on a day-by-day basis after he officially unretired on August 30, and that slower ramp-up has pushed his debut back. He has been practicing with teammates for less than two weeks, which makes this delay less shocking than it is frustrating for anyone hoping to see him back right away.
For the 49ers, though, the timing is a gift. They still have to deal with a dangerous Rams pass rush featuring Myles Garrett, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner, but not having to line up against Donald is a major relief. That luxury won’t be there when the teams meet again in Week 14.
McVay said he expects Donald will “ be ready to go sooner rather than later.” He also made clear the Rams believe sitting him in Week 1 “is best for him and for our team.”
Given how little team work Donald has had since returning, that approach makes sense. He has gone more than two and a half years since his last NFL snap, and there’s no reason to rush him back before he’s fully ready.
A Week 3 return looks like the latest fans should expect, even with the NFL’s roster exemption set to expire in Week 2. Los Angeles still hasn’t used the extra roster spot anyway, so that piece of the equation doesn’t really change much.
There’s also the contract angle. Donald’s deal includes a $667,000 bonus per game played, up to 15 games, with minimum snap requirements attached.
If he misses more than two games, part of that incentive pay goes away. That makes the wait more expensive, but it doesn’t appear to be changing the Rams’ plan.
San Francisco’s offensive line will still have a tough assignment. Based on the depth charts, Trent Williams is set to draw Byron Young, while Garrett will face seventh-year veteran Colton McKivitz, who ranked seventh among all tackles in PFF grade last season.
And if there’s one rookie on the 49ers side who should be especially happy about Donald staying home, it’s left guard Carvis Willis. Even at 35, Donald is exactly the kind of player who can make life miserable for a first-year lineman.
The Rams may also have Puka Nacua and left tackle Alaric Jackson available. Their status had been up in the air because suspensions were possible, but unless something changes at the last minute, any discipline appears likely to be delayed.
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