Rams fans may have to wait a little longer before seeing Aaron Donald in action

Aaron Donald's return to the Los Angeles Rams is all the rage, not just among Rams fans but across the league. It's easy to imagine him alongside Myles Garrett and picture the annihilation of the San Francisco 49ers in just eight days' time, when the season kicks off in Melbourne, Australia.

Only, we may have to wait just a little bit longer to see Donald in action. 

That's not a surprise. The uncertainty involved in Donald's unprecedented unretirement is exactly why the NFL granted the Rams a two-week roster exemption. That allows Donald to participate in team activities without counting against the 53-man roster limit. Even as he has committed to a return, it's difficult to predict whether he'll be fully up to speed by Week 1. 

Head coach Sean McVay indicated as much on Monday, via Rams beat writer Zach Edwards, when Donald was absent from practice as part of a load management plan:

"I wouldn't rule anything out yet. Sometimes when you put unnecessary parameters or guidelines on something, you can skew things. But what I think what's really good for us is if he's able to go, great, if not, that's kind of how we've been operating as is, and guys have done an excellent job of being able to do some really cool stuff in the meantime. So, if he's not ready, and that's not what's best for him and for the team, absolutely wouldn't have him play in Australia." 

Aaron Donald may miss Rams' season opener (and that's okay)

Reading between the lines, if anything it sounds like Donald is more likely not to play. Which makes sense. Donald himself described his process as ongoing in his introductory press conference. He may need a couple of weeks to get back in the flow.

Putting on the pads and playing 11-on-11 practice is a bit different from individual drills. Donald also said he wants to make sure he can pick up on live cues and refine his reaction time, which requires lining up opposite an offensive line in a game-like setting. 

The exemption also means the Rams needn't be in any rush for Week 1. They can still add an extra player if needed (the roster currently holds 53 members including Donald, despite the exemption). 

Ultimately, both Donald and the Rams will want to ensure he returns at near full speed; you already know Donald won't do anything halfway. That's not just about his personal standards. It's also about safeguarding his health after two years of retirement, away from the violence of in-game action.

All of the above could lead to Donald sitting out Game 1. Not to worry. The starting defensive line still boasts Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford, with Swiss-Army knife Tyler Davis waiting for his chance off the bench. 

While missing Donald would be mildly disappointing, Rams fans know they've already gotten more than they bargained for with Donald coming back this early, rather than waiting until later in the season as some speculated he might. From that perspective, the question of Donald's Week 1 availability is essentially a free roll. 

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