The Los Angeles Rams suffered two major losses on their interior defensive line this week as Poona Ford and Kobie Turner were added to injured reserve. Ford is out for the rest of the season, while Turner is set to return later this year.
In the meantime, Rams superstar Aaron Donald will have to help bridge the gap, likely increasing his role and snap count. Donald has been playing around 58% of the snaps per game this season, but defensive coordinator Chris Shula this week stated that the team is willing to go beyond his typical count if the game calls for Donald's presence.
“That's hard to say," said Shula. "I think it definitely depends on the flow of the game and a lot of things like that. A lot of things go into it. We have a general snap
count that he's always going to have going into the game. I don't think we would go crazily past that, but it's going to be hard if it's a tight game and he's at that number. Just like one of those pitchers in the ninth inning, you're probably going to leave him in for a few extra snaps.”
Donald was asked about the situation, and he stated he's ready to play as many snaps as the team wants.
“I'm going to just be out there playing," said Donald. "However that rotation is going to be, it's going to be. We never have to set a snap, we just go as the game goes and have what that is. If it's 30 plays, 40 plays, 50 plays, 60 plays, that's what it's going to be.”
Last week, in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Donald played 42 out of 72 total defensive snaps. That was the highest snap count for an interior defensive lineman and was 58 percent of the total snaps. Donald and the Rams play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Aaron Donald ready for more snaps if needed with Rams DTs out
