Will Aaron Donald make his 2026 debut on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants? The Rams may need him. With Myles Garrett out, and the entire team looking middle of the pack (at best) against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, the Rams may need Donald to help them get back in the win column.
It’s not time to panic, but it is time to seriously realize that if the Rams do not start stacking wins now, or at the very least show some improvement in Week 2, this season could get away from them
quicker than they had ever considered.
It’s Tuesday, time will tell who all will be officially active on Monday night. Could Donald be one of the Rams to come out of the tunnel? Stay tuned.
Rams HC Sean McVay noncommittal on Aaron Donald’s Week 2 status (ramswire)
“Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay isn’t tipping his hand on whether Aaron Donald will suit up for Monday Night Football against the New York Giants, saying the Rams simply haven’t made a decision yet.
“He’s going to continue to work his process,” McVay said, “and we’ll see what that looks like.”
Sean McVay offers positive updates on 3 Rams injuries (ramswire)
“McVay called the updates on safety Kam Curl, inside linebacker Nate Landman, inside linebacker Omar Speights and tight end Davis Allen “positive,” suggesting the Rams could get some of their key contributors back sooner rather than later.
Curl exited Thursday’s game in the second half with an ankle injury. While he was officially listed as questionable to return, McVay said the veteran safety “is good,” downplaying the injury as ankle soreness. Curl has quickly become one of the most important pieces of the Rams defense, starting all 17 games last season while playing 99% of the defensive snaps. He signed a $36 million contract extension this offseason. Jaylen McCollough replaced Curl after going down, who had two tackles before exiting.“
4 things Rams learned from Sunday’s games: Are LaFleur’s Cardinals…good? (ramswire)
“As always in the opening weekend of the season, there were plenty of surprises and new developments across the league. Here are four things the Rams learned about their foes in the NFC, including a couple of impressive upcoming opponents in the Cardinals and Giants.
Cardinals won’t be the easy out many people expected them to be
The Cardinals’ projected win total was set at 3.5 before the season started. After just one game, they’re already a quarter of the way toward eclipsing that number set by oddsmakers. They beat the Chargers convincingly on Sunday, 26-14, in Mike LaFleur’s head coaching debut. And they were on the road in L.A., too.“
Did Browns Know More Than Rams Ahead of Myles Garrett Trade? Why Deal Timing Was Perfect (heavy.com)
“Garrett earned his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2025 after tallying 23 sacks and breaking the NFL’s single-season mark in that category. He wanted a raise heading into his age-31 campaign and didn’t make sense for Cleveland’s timeline, given the Browns don’t appear likely to have a true franchise QB before 2027, which probably means it will be at least 2028 before the team can seriously contend.
The Browns executed a deal with the Los Angeles Rams, after which Garrett missed considerable time during the spring and summer with knee issues that included swelling. Now, after one wildly underwhelming performance in a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, Garrett is going to miss at least four weeks due to surgery.“
Reeling Rams defense can’t afford to underestimate Jaxson Dart and the Giants (ramblinfan)
“While 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy picked apart the Rams, the Giants’ Jaxson Dart dominated the Cowboys secondary in similar fashion, completing 23-of-29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns.He was cooly efficient en route to averaging an impressive 0.73 EPA per play, wasting little energy in leading his offense to a touchdown in every quarter.
And now the LA defense, which is already reeling, must step up and stop him in Week 2.
Rams defense won’t be overconfident vs Giants in Week 2
Whatever exposed the Rams so badly, those factors have been scrubbed for Week 2. They are no longer anointed as default winners. The roster is no longer seenas bursting with insurmountable superstars, many of whom eitherstruggled in the season opener, are injured entering Week 2 (i.e., Myles Garrett),or both.“
Texas A&M Legend Myles Garrett’s Injury Situation Takes New Turn (sports.yahoo)
“Myles Garrett‘s highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Rams did not go according to plan, and now the former Texas A&M star is facing a significant absence after undergoing knee surgery.
Garrett was dealing with the knee issue throughout the summer, limiting his participation during training camp and the preseason. However, the Rams believed the veteran defensive end would be able to manage the injury and contribute once the regular season arrived.“
Rams tumble in Week 2 power rankings: Is LA a top-5 team? (ramswire)
“5. Los Angeles Rams (1): Woof. At least you couldn’t blame the special teams for this loss? But the Rams scored their fewest points of the Matthew Stafford era, while WR Puka Nacua had more tackles (1) than ballyhooed offseason acquisition Myles Garrett, who will be out at least the next month – apparently he should’ve stayed in L.A. with Aaron Donald. This was likely an anomalous defeat, if a reminder that the Lombardi Trophy is guaranteed to no team.“
Rams undecided if Donald will play vs. Giants (nbcsports)
“Donald was kept off the Week 1 roster for last week’s opener against the 49ers, and the Rams did receive a two-game roster exemption for Donald after he agreed to return. Speaking on Monday, McVay said Donald will “continue to work his process” and that the team will see how things look from there. With the Rams losing Myles Garrett (knee) for at least the next four games, it’s safe to assume they would like to get Donald on the field sooner rather than later.
– Zachary Krueger”
Broncos-Chiefs on ‘Monday Night Football’: What We Learned from Kansas City’s 31-10 win (nfl.com)
“Davis’ Denver offense stymied. As Patrick Mahomes made his much-ballyhooed return after tearing his ACL and LCL last season, his former Texas Tech teammate Davis Webb was making his debut as the Broncos play-caller and offensive coordinator. Monday went much better for Mahomes. Webb and Broncos QB Bo Nix, in his first game since breaking his ankle in the Divisional Round, never found any consistent success. Kenneth Walker’s 191 total yards for the Chiefs bested the Broncos’ 176. Nix looked sharper earlier passing than Mahomes, but it made no matter as the game wore on with Denver shockingly held to nine first downs and its ground game non-existent. J.K. Dobbins was the leading ground gainer with a meager 36 yards, while Nix’s 19-yard TD toss to Evan Engram to tie the game in the first quarter was really the last splash of any kind had by Webb’s offense. After the Chiefs vaulted ahead, 21-7, on a stellar 60-yard gallop by Walker in the third quarter, Mahomes was picked off by Brandon Jones on the Chiefs’ ensuing drive. Set up at the KC 5-yard line, Nix and the offense went backward and settled for a 31-yard field goal by Wil Lutz — Denver’s last points of the game. With such high expectations and such a disastrous debut for Webb and the offense, one has to wonder how long head coach Sean Payton will wait until snatching the offensive reins back.“
NFL ties Week 1 scoring record for Super Bowl era (nfl.com)
“Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos combining for 41 points on Monday night, the opening slate of games for the 2026 season has officially tied the 2012 season’s record for the most Week 1 points scored (791) during the Super Bowl era.
Entering Monday’s AFC West showdown, teams had averaged 50.0 combined points per game, per NFL Research, with the Week 1 finale bringing the average down to 49.4.“
Comment of the Day:
“McVay, I like you as a coach, I’m proud to say you’re the coach of the Rams. But why try and see if he can “play through” with his knee issue? He could have had the knee surgery in late July and been ready by now.?I think you and Snead were embarrassed to admit it, tried to cover up the knee issue after this big trade that’s why you wanted to see him “play through” it. Of course you or other coaches wouldn’t you traded for damaged goods.
It is what it is. I’m not coach or GM. You now have to deal with a rough schedule, let’s see how you guide the team through it. It’s one game but I think not just physically but the players were mentally tired thinking boy these Niners were here for a week and well rested while our team tried to shuffle through a long flight with little sleep. Please don’t do that again.“ -LaRams&NyMets
