Aaron Donald Returns as Rams Lose Myles Garrett for Giants Opener

LOS ANGELES — The Rams will make a 28-mile commute from their newly established practice facility in Woodland Hills to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood for Monday Night Football, a much simpler trip than the 16,000-mile round-trip journey they made for Week 1 in Australia. The home opener against the New York Giants will also mark Aaron Donald’s highly anticipated season debut at SoFi Stadium.

Donald, 35, ended a two-year retirement earlier this month to rejoin the Rams. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year had been looking forward to lining up with Myles Garrett, but Garrett was placed on injured reserve this week after knee surgery.

Garrett, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, set a league record last season with 23 sacks. The two defensive stars have 236.5 combined career sacks, though that projected tandem is now on hold for at least the next four weeks while Garrett recovers. Opposing offensive lines are expected to shift their focus toward Donald, a possibility the veteran defensive tackle dismissed.

“You think they’re going to double/triple team me [after] not playing for two years?” Donald said. “They ain’t worried about me, man. They don’t have to be worried about me. They don’t have to worry about me at all.”

The Rams entered the season as Super Bowl favorites but did not have Donald for their Week 1 opener, a 27-7 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Their offense failed to establish a consistent rhythm, the defense surrendered three touchdown passes, and special teams allowed a lengthy kickoff return.

Rams head coach Sean McVay described the 11-day layoff between games as “an eternity” and welcomed Donald back to the active roster. McVay is in his 10th season leading the franchise after being hired in 2017 as the youngest head coach in modern NFL history. He later led the Rams to a championship in Super Bowl LVI.

“Aaron is a stud, and he’s been at the forefront of setting the foundation of everything that we’re about here,” McVay said. “I remember my interview process included meeting with him and he’s looking at me like, ‘This is the guy that they’re thinking about hiring?’”

The offensive unit is also seeking redemption. Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player and now in his 18th professional season, finished the opener with 155 passing yards and one interception. Star wide receiver Puka Nacua is questionable for Monday because of a hip injury, while veteran wide receiver Davante Adams cautioned against panicking over the first performance.

“Everybody’s freaking out, which I understand,” Adams said. “We didn’t put together the greatest showing out there. But you’re a fool if you think that that’s what it’s going to look like every single week.”

New York arrives after opening its campaign with a 28-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys under new head coach John Harbaugh. The Giants’ lineup includes second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, playmaker Malik Nabers, tight end Isaiah Likely, and running back Cam Skattebo. Outside linebacker Brian Burns anchors their defensive unit.

Rams players said they have moved past the Week 1 disappointment and are locked into the matchup with New York. “You get trained, whether it’s a game or a play. Good, bad, and different, move on to the next,” Stafford said. “Don’t think too much about it. Don’t harp too much about it. Just be honest with yourself, play in and play out, game in and game out.”