The Los Angeles Rams are ready to go whether they have Aaron Donald back on their roster or not. If there was any doubt, Sean McVay has confirmed and made it clear they have plans for if AD is present, and they also have plans for if he’s not. No surprise, really, but it’s news nonetheless.
The media has been covering the Aaron Donald story throughout the offseason and to be fair, Turf Show Times has done its fair share of work too. Will Donald revise his contract? Does Aaron Donald really want to come
back? Would Donald want to the risk the challenge of another NFL season?
So many questions for the Los Angeles Rams and Donald, and Week One against the San Francisco 49ers is fast approaching. There are a lot of takes on whether Donald will be back with the Rams early, later, much later or never. It doesn’t seem like anyone with these takes actually knows.
Until anything is confirmed, everyone is waiting for Donald to confirm his plans. If Donald gets to do that on his time and not anyone else’s, then know one “knows” what Donald is going to do except Donald. That doesn’t stop anyone from speculating, and it can’t stop the Rams from preparing.
Sean McVay has plans for Rams if Aaron Donald is here ‘and if he’s not’ (nfl.com)
“We’ve had plans if he’s there, and if he’s not,” McVay said Tuesday, via the Los Angeles Times.
“Our thought process has been, ‘let’s look at a 53 with him and a 53 not including him and what does that look like. Whenever a decision is made, if that is the direction he goes where he wants to play, then we have plans accordingly and if not we have plans for those as well.”
Contingency plans are common at this time of the season, especially as general managers are confronted with difficult decisions that must be made within the constraints of a 53-man roster. Los Angeles’ is unique in that it will have one for the potential return of a franchise legend, but otherwise, it’s business as usual.“
NFL analyst offers fresh take on potential Aaron Donald timeline (ramswire)
“Discussing the situation on a recent episode, Mike Florio and his PFT co-host Chris Simms floated a scenario that splits the difference between Donald suiting up Week 1 and staying retired for good: re-signing him and immediately placing him on the physically unable to perform list.
Under that path, Donald would be permitted to work out on his own but couldn’t practice with the Rams until the team opens a three-week practice window — at which point he’d get a ramp-up period before any decision on activating him to the 53-man roster.“
With Aaron Donald undecided, Rams prepping for 53-player rosters with and without him (nbcsports)
“If he decides he wants to be able to do it, then the next conversations are: What is your ramp-up?” McVay said Tuesday, via Benjamin Royer of the ocregister.com. “What does it look like to approach whenever that would be the first time that we think we make the most sense for him to impact and make a positive change with us?
“We’ve had to have a lot of fluidity and flexibility, and that’s what I’ve had to learn over 10 years. But I think what’s good is the thing that has served us well – and it’s really the truth – is let’s just stay one day at a time.”
2 more Rams starters join Nacua, Garrett on sidelines Tuesday (ramwire)
“Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett have been sidelined from practice for the last two weeks, but they’re not the only starters out for the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. The Athletic’s Nate Atkins noted at the start of practice that Alaric Jackson is absent, and Terrance Ferguson is working off to the side with the training staff like Nacua has been.
It’s unclear why Jackson and Ferguson are not practicing; Nacua has a psoas injury, while Garrett is dealing with knee swelling.“
NFL players going back to college has Rams HC Sean McVay questioning reality (clutchpoints.com)
“Discussing the prospects of professional athletes going back to college for another season Old School style, McVay kept it brief but left the definitive piece of criticism on the subject, noting that the entire process has him feeling a certain type of way.
“I feel like I took a freakin’ gummy,” McVay declared via LA Times’ Gary Klein.“
LA Rams’ 3-Time All-Pro ‘Virtually Uncoverable’ Ahead of Week 1 (sports.yahoo)
“”If there was concern over whether Adams still had it as a perimeter wide receiver at age 33, this camp has put a lot of those questions to rest,” Atkins wrote.
That assessment arrives at an ideal time for a Rams team preparing to open the season against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Los Angeles knew what Adams was capable of, and his work in camp suggests the veteran hasn’t missed a beat when creating problems across the field.“
Los Angeles Rams: 2026 NFL Kickoff Guide (nbcnews)
“Welcome to the NFL Kickoff Guide powered by NBC Sports. Our expert researchers created a guide to the most important stats and storylines for all 32 teams this upcoming season.”
EXCLUSIVE: Myles Garrett Sells Ohio Home for $50K Over Asking Price—as Move to L.A. Rams is Mired by Injury (realtor.com)
“Property records were updated to reflect that the athlete’s Wadsworth, OH, dwelling had come under offer just a few days after the listing went live—and now, the listing has been updated to show that the deal has officially closed, for $500,000 over his original ask. Rebecca Donatelli and Natalie Antonelli of The Elli Group at Elite Sotheby’s International Realty represented Garrett in the deal.
The 30-year-old purchased his Cleveland-area home for $1.3 million in November 2018, according to records, just over a year after he was chosen by the Browns as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Garrett, who is originally from Texas, spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the Browns, earning the title of Defensive Player of the Year twice during that time—while becoming a local hero in the Cleveland area.“
Rams’ agonizing roster math likely leaves Wesley Bailey out in the cold (ramblinfan)
“Bailey is an undrafted rookie, if a very promising one, who right now likely remains on the outside looking in.
Rams would have to jump through multiple hoops to roster Wesley Bailey
Being blocked at edge rusher isn’t the only obstacle. The Rams could break tradition and carry five. But that would mean shaving a roster spot elsewhere.“
LA Rams’ Sean McVay Makes QB Decision Before Week 1 (heavy.com)
“Stu Jackson of the Rams’ official site reported Tuesday, Aug. 25 that McVay said one of Bennett or Simpson “will be the backup in Australia.”
“We feel fortunate that you got two guys that we believe in, feel really good about,” McVay said.“
Comment of the Day:
NFL contact can be very confusing. I agree.
“I admit 100% that I don’t remotely understand NFL contracts. IF you sign a 4-year contract in 2022, miss half the initial season due to injury, play out your 2nd year and then voluntarily decide to retire at age 32…, why do you get paid for four full years? I could never get an engineering consultant contract like that one. lol. And, tbh, with AD playing two more years, it might’ve been just enough for us to be 2024 and 2025 SB Champions. On the other hand, did a $30M per year hit keep us from acquiring a LB and CB that might’ve also made the difference the last two years? I have no answers regarding NFL contracts. There was a gentleman named Dubs around here over a decade ago who understood and explained contracts expertly. But, sadly, he passed away. ✝️” -SlowTightEnd
