Los Angeles Rams: 3 storylines for Week 1 of preseason against Baltimore Ravens

Like it or not, and I don’t expect fans to like it one bit, Thursday night might be a look at the Rams without Donald, and it’s a look you may need to get used to.

The question moving forward, and it’s one that may not even be answered in the four exhibition games the Rams will play, is how much his absence affects the team.

Let’s be honest, as it may or it may not.

As for the game against Baltimore, it’s practically a sidebar. While the Donald story will continue to get its requisite air-time, a Week 1 preseason game is inconsequential in the grand of things with AD and the Rams.

But it will be worthy to note, especially this exhibition season, where rank and file players find themselves when called upon to answer about their missing teammate.

Donald may end up being the most compelling holdout in that he brings the necessary credentials required to get paid, and it looks like he won’t anytime soon. While the Rams and No.99 are clearly not on the same page for compensation, it’s a story the locker room will continue to be asked, over and over again.

Rams at Baltimore is just one of four preseason games Los Angeles will play as they prepare for a 2018 campaign loaded with expectations.

With that being said, just don’t expect Donald to be a part of the action on Thursday, or any preseason at all if this holdout continues to drag on.