Sean McVay said Friday that Aaron Donald will be traveling with the Los Angeles Rams to Australia, but that still doesn’t settle the biggest question hanging over Week 1: will he actually play?
For now, the Rams are keeping that part quiet. McVay gave reporters confirmation that Donald is making the trip, but nothing more than that on his status for the game.
That leaves plenty of room for interpretation. A player usually doesn’t fly that far just to watch from the sideline, which makes a return seem possible.
At the same time, Donald could simply be along for the ride to be with his teammates, with the coaching staff choosing not to push him too quickly. There’s also the possibility that Los Angeles is keeping San Francisco guessing and forcing the 49ers to prepare as if Donald might be out there.
What is clear is that his travel plans do not amount to a playing decision. If Donald had stayed home, that would have told a different story, and it would have been a break for the 49ers. Instead, he’s on the trip, and the uncertainty remains.
The 49ers already left for Australia earlier this week, while the Rams are scheduled to head out a little later. Those different timelines are sure to become part of the conversation before Thursday and, depending on what happens, maybe after the game too.
Even if Donald does suit up, there’s still the bigger unknown: what version of him would the Rams be getting? He hasn’t played a snap in two seasons, so any return comes with obvious questions.
For San Francisco, the safest outcome might be not having to answer any of those questions in Week 1 at all.
In Other News...
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49ers Edge Depth Gets Tested At The Worst Possible Time
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49ers Suddenly Have Real Trade Deadline Pressure To Go For It
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Pass-rush help is the area most often mentioned around the Niners, and that alone tells you where the pressure is building. Jared Verse has been one of the names floated as a possible target, and his contract status for the next two years only adds to the intrigue for a team that wants more disruption up front without sacrificing long-term control. The question for San Francisco is no longer whether it can afford to chase a difference-maker, but whether this is the moment to spend the capital to do it. [Read more 🡒]