Ex Aggies Star Myles Garrett Set for Rams Debut as Aaron Donald Sits Out

The Los Angeles Rams made one of the biggest defensive splashes of the offseason when they added Myles Garrett and convinced Aaron Donald to come out of retirement. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the possibility of seeing two of the best defensive players of their generation on the same defensive line was one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the 2026 season.

That combination, however, will have to wait.

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Donald will not play in the Rams' Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia after head coach Sean McVay confirmed Tuesday that the veteran defensive tackle will not travel with the team. Donald recently returned to the Rams following a two-year retirement, but the team is taking a cautious approach as he works his way back into football shape.

The decision is understandable considering Donald has not played in an NFL game since the 2023 season and has had limited practice time since announcing his return. He participated in only one full 11-on-11 practice before the Rams made the decision to keep him home for the opener.

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That means Garrett will have to carry much of the attention on the Rams' defensive front in the season opener.

Garrett is expected to be ready to play against San Francisco after dealing with a knee issue that kept him out of practice for an extended stretch. McVay said the star pass rusher will be "ready to go," giving the Rams at least one of their two headline defensive additions for the matchup.

For Texas A&M fans, Garrett's presence remains particularly significant. The former Aggie is entering his first season with the Rams after being acquired from Cleveland, and expectations are enormous following a 2025 campaign in which he broke the single-season sack record.

The dream scenario for Los Angeles is still to eventually see Garrett and Donald working together. Donald's return was partially fueled by the opportunity to play alongside Garrett, creating the potential for one of the most terrifying defensive combinations in football history.

But that won't happen in Week 1.

Instead, Garrett will make his Rams debut without the future Hall of Famer beside him. Donald is expected to have more time to ramp up before potentially returning in Week 2, allowing Los Angeles to prioritize the long-term goal rather than rushing him back for the season opener.

The Rams may not get their supercharged defensive front immediately, but Garrett's Week 1 availability gives them a chance to make an early statement while they patiently wait for Donald to join the fight.