The Los Angeles Rams announced on Tuesday that star defensive tackle Aaron Donald would not make the trip down to Melbourne, Australia, for the season opener, instead opting to continue his workout process as he gets ready for Week 2.
Donald returned to the Rams on Aug. 30, ending his retirement after two seasons. The decision to keep him back in L.A. was a tough one, but here's why it's a good thing that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year isn't playing.
Outside of the fact that Donald returned to practice less than two weeks ago following two years away from the game, the Rams' timeline and schedule will give them an advantage in his preparations.
Playing against the San Francisco 49ers would've been foolish in the long run, as the tight
turnaround – paired with the travel to and from Australia – could have had negative effects on Donald's ability to play a whole season. On top of that, the 49ers' offensive scheme is predicated on their running game, something Donald may not have been as effective against compared to his teammates who have had a full camp and preseason to prepare for.
The 49ers also get the ball out quickly in the passing game, likely negating Donald's impact off the bench, especially as he has to knock off natural rust. Donald would've been schemed out anyways, and now the team's faster pass rushers will be able to see more of the field.
However, the biggest advantage comes after the game. The Rams play the 49ers on Thursday. They do not play again until Monday, September 21st. That will give Donald another week and a half of uninterrupted time to prepare. Instead of giving a returning legend a tough hurdle to climb in the early season, Donald will have had over three weeks to get right, especially as the Rams have a gauntlet to begin the season.
After the 49ers, the Rams play three playoff teams in their next four games, with trips to Denver and Philadelphia in back-to-back weeks.
So while it's unfortunate that Donald won't be on the field, there's a reason why the Rams are one of the healthier teams in football. Donald's inactive status for game day will pay off in the long run.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams holding Aaron Donald out for Week 1 is the right decision
