Aaron Donald has returned to the Los Angeles Rams but already missed his first practice, raising concerns about his availability for the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. After practicing on Sunday, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year sat out Monday’s session as part of the team's plan to ease him back into action.

Rams coach Sean McVay explained that Donald is still working to regain football shape after two months of individual workouts. McVay stated, "Aaron not being out there was part of the plan all along, so that was par for the course."

The potential for Donald to miss the opener is real, as McVay confirmed, "Oh, yeah, absolutely. That could be a possibility. I wouldn't rule anything out yet." The Rams will travel to Melbourne next week, and a decision on Donald’s status is expected before the flight to avoid unnecessary travel if he is not ready to play.

McVay emphasized the need for Donald to practice before making any decisions about his participation in Week 1, noting that the team wants to ensure his health and readiness. Donald himself expressed the importance of being at his best:

I need to be at the level that I want to play at and that's all I can do. Ain't rushing [anything].

Interestingly, Donald's revised one-year, $30 million contract includes bonuses tied to his active roster status, allowing him to earn a maximum of $10 million regardless of whether he plays in Week 1 or Week 18. As the Rams prepare for their trip, Donald's availability remains a significant question mark.