The San Francisco 49ers would've loved nothing more than for future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald to stay retired.
He didn't, though, ultimately ending his retirement and rejoining the Niners' divisional archrivals, the Los Angeles Rams.
And it just so happens to be the Niners get to face L.A. in Week 1 of the regular season—a first-ever showdown in Australia. In light of San Francisco's glaring concerns about the interior of their offensive line, having to face Donald right out of the gate has to be absolutely terrifying.
Except the 49ers may not have to square off against the perennial All-Pro. At least not imminently.
Rams' Aaron Donald might not be ready for Week 1 vs. 49ers
All signs still point to Donald being in terrific shape despite now being 35 years old. Yet that doesn't automatically translate into him being gameday ready for the NFC West tilt down under on Sept. 10.
It's a fact Los Angeles' head coach, Sean McVay, told reporters not long after Donald's un-retirement went official:
Sean McVay breaks down the plan to get Aaron Donald up to speed ahead of the Rams’ Week 1 matchup vs. the 49ers in Australia
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 31, 2026
(Via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/hhWNUVvmDy
"It's going to be a day at a time for us," McVay said. "What does that mean for Australia? The first step was, 'Alright, if you're coming back, let's do that. Let's get you out on the practice field. Let's get you acclimated to your teammates, to your coaches.'
"And then we'll see what that ramp-up period looks like, whether or not he's available or whether or not we think it's best to be able to play him in Australia. I think the best way to do it is take it one day at a time, but we're obviously excited to be able to have him back."
The trip to Australia alone complicates matters. It moves up both teams' travel and preparation plans, meaning roster decisions must be made earlier than they otherwise would if the two squads were preparing for an in-state contest. Donald might officially be rostered, but that doesn't necessarily translate into him being 100-percent ready.
The 49ers can hope this winds up being true. Perhaps the wrecking ball of an interior defensive lineman isn't fully ready in time for the Week 1 international showdown, meaning the Niners can put off having to worry about Donald's presence until much later in the season.
At the same time, the uncertainty of Donald's imminent future means San Francisco has to be prepared nonetheless.
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