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Aaron Donald’s highly anticipated NFL return will have to wait at least another week. The Los Angeles Rams ruled the veteran defensive lineman out of their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers. Donald will not travel with the Rams to Australia for Thursday’s game. Instead, he will remain with the Rams and continue preparing for his return to competitive football. The Future Hall of Famer ended his retirement recently, signaling his return to the Rams on August 30 after a two-year hiatus. Now, 35, the veteran must find his football conditioning again ahead of the 2026 season. Jeff Saturday Raises Questions About Aaron Donald’s Comeback After initially naming Donald as a starter for their opener, the Rams changed course before the Melbourne trip. Head coach Sean McVay said the decision was made with Donald’s long-term health and the team’s interests in mind. The Rams still believe he can return soon, but not in a hurry. Former NFL offensive lineman Jeff Saturday sees the situation differently while on ESPN’s Get Up podcast. He queried how much impact Donald can make after such a lengthy absence. “Minimal. … This guy has been out of football for a couple years.” https://x.com/GetUpESPN/status/2097667746037198854?s=20 And there are reasons to consider Saturday’s concern. Returning to NFL football after such a long layoff is challenging. While Donald has remained committed to his conditioning, game speed presents a different test. The defensive tackle last played in 2023, when he started all 16 games and finished with 48 tackles, eight sacks and three passes defended. Those numbers came during the final season of his first NFL career. Donald then stepped away from football after the 2023 campaign. Meanwhile, he still boasts an enviable career résumé that’s difficult to match. He owns 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, and 790 pressures across 154 regular-season games. He also earned three Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight first-team All-Pro selections. Yet the Rams’ motivation for bringing Donald back transcends his reputation. They expect him to contribute alongside another elite defensive star in Myles Garrett. Garrett produced 23 sacks for the Cleveland Browns in 2025. The Rams acquired him during the offseason to strengthen an already talented defensive front. That pairing gives the franchise significant upside once Donald reaches full strength. However, the Rams must first determine how quickly the veteran can handle a regular workload. Thankfully, Donald himself has expressed confidence in his ability to return to high-level football. The Rams also named him a starter before ultimately deciding against sending him to Australia. The latest decision does not necessarily signal a major setback. Instead, it gives the veteran extra time to prepare before taking his first meaningful NFL snaps since 2023. For now, the Rams will depend on their other defensive linemen against San Francisco. Players like Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Poona Ford, and Tyler Davis are among the players expected to carry more responsibility. The matchup would have provided an immediate test for Donald against a familiar NFC West opponent. However, one of the greatest defensive players of his generation would have few more days to introduce his rare experience again to the pitch.4 Related reading: Shedeur Sanders Gets Clear Signal From Browns Coaching Staff Ahead of Season Opener Baker Mayfield Agrees to Extension After ‘Disrespectful’ Buccaneers Offer