Aaron Donald’s return to the NFL will be delayed after the Los Angeles Rams confirmed that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year will not travel to Australia for Thursday’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.

Donald only ended his two-year retirement on 30th August and has completed one full 11-on-11 practice since rejoining the Rams. Los Angeles has decided that the 35-year-old requires further time to rebuild his conditioning before making his first appearance since January 2024.

Head coach Sean McVay had repeatedly insisted that Donald’s progress would be judged daily and refused to impose an artificial deadline on his availability. With the Rams due to make the long journey to Melbourne shortly before the game, the team has chosen to continue his preparation in Los Angeles rather than include him as an inactive traveller. Donald remained deliberately vague when questioned about his plans on Monday, repeatedly telling reporters that he was ‘feeling good while declining to confirm whether he would make the trip.

“Honestly, man, I really do feel good,” he said. “Things are clicking faster than what I thought they would. Even with my first day out there with 11-on-11, I thought that things would be a little all over the place, but I settled in. A couple plays were a little rusty. It ain’t to where I want it to be, but it’s pretty damn good, if you ask me.

“To not play football in two years, to be moving how I’m moving, there’s really no drop-off. It’s not where I want to be because I can see it and I know there’s things that I want to clean up. The more reps I do, the more I play, it’ll get there.”

Donald had retired in March 2024 after spending his entire 10-season career with the Rams. He returned on a one-year contract worth $20m, with playoff incentives capable of increasing its value to $30m, having been tempted by another opportunity to pursue a championship alongside Myles Garrett. The prospect of pairing Donald with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year immediately transformed expectations surrounding the Los Angeles defense, but their first appearance together must now wait for at least another week.

Garrett will play in Melbourne, however, despite dealing with swelling in his knee during training camp. The former Cleveland Browns star returned to practice on Sunday and McVay said he will be ‘ready to go’ against San Francisco. His availability ensures the 49ers will still encounter the player who established a new single-season NFL record with 23 sacks last year, but Donald’s absence changes the complexion of a match-up that appeared set to feature the Rams’ much-anticipated pairing against a San Francisco offensive line still carrying uncertainty at left guard.

Donald recorded 111 sacks and earned eight first-team All-Pro selections during his first career, winning Defensive Player of the Year honours on three occasions. He will now continue preparing for a second debut without the disruption of travelling across the Pacific and adjusting to the time difference. The Rams visit Tennessee in Week 2 before facing Philadelphia at SoFi Stadium. No firm date has been attached to Donald’s return, and McVay has made clear that the reputation of the player involved will not accelerate the process.