THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay announced Friday what had been expected all week: Aaron Donald will start the Week 2 home game against the Washington Redskins, despite taking part in only three practices with the team.
“He had a good week of practice,” McVay said. “As far as how we approach that game, that’s something that we’ll figure out in the next 48 hours. But he’s going to go unless something changes between [now and] then. The snap count and how many plays he plays is yet to be determined.”
Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Thursday that Donald would be on a “pitch count” Sunday, considering he did not end his holdout until this past Saturday and didn’t take part in his first full practice with the team until Wednesday.
Donald, widely considered the game’s best interior lineman, spent the entire summer working out at his alma mater of Pittsburgh while using what little leverage he has to turn the remaining two years of his rookie contract into a lucrative extension.
The three-time Pro Bowler, still without a deal, said Wednesday that he “worked out a lot” and is in “great shape,” but added: “There’s a difference from running around and then having to be on the football field.”
To his teammates, Donald looked like his usual, disruptive self in pads.
“He looked pretty good, being that he hasn’t been here all summer,” Rams inside linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “I know he definitely wanted to stay in shape through the whole process. He came back and has been working like the rest of us, and he’s been doing well.”
Donald will start alongside nose tackle Michael Brockers and, presumably, defensive end Ethan Westbrooks. With Tyrunn Walker and Tanzel Smart playing in Donald’s place against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, the Rams returned two interceptions for touchdowns, recovered a fumble, caused a safety and generated four sacks in a 46-9 win.
Donald didn’t attend that game but rejoined his teammates for film work and light conditioning Monday. In practice throughout the week, McVay said Donald “looks good, looks fresh, looks like the Aaron Donald that you guys are accustomed to seeing. And that’s kind of what I expected because you know he’s a guy who’s going to take great care of himself when he’s away.”