Rams’ Donald passes physical, ends holdout
All-pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald reported to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, ending a holdout that began in May without him receiving a new contract.
Donald, 26, passed his physical when he reported to the Rams’ training complex in Thousand Oaks, but he will not play in their season opener at the Coliseum against Indianapolis on Sunday.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection held out for four months to demand a new contract after three standout NFL seasons. The Rams held months of civil negotiations with Donald’s representatives but couldn’t reach a deal.
The sides intend to continue negotiations even with Donald back on the team, the Rams announced.
Donald is scheduled to make $1.8 million this year and $6.9 million in 2018 under the terms of his rookie deal. He was seeking a contract to make him the NFL’s highest-paid player, but he won’t miss any game checks this season by reporting in time for the opener.
Donald is among the top defensive players in the sport, recording 28 sacks in three seasons and earning a reputation as one of the league’s most effective players at any position.
Donald missed an entire training camp under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who is eager to plug Donald into the center of his 3-4 defense. The Rams host Washington next weekend.
Tanzel Smart, a rookie sixth-round pick out of Tulane, is expected to start in Donald’s place Sunday against the Colts.
Janikowski on IR: The Oakland Raiders placed long-time kicker Sebastian Janikowski on injured reserve with an injured back and promoted Giorgio Tavecchio to the active roster.
The team made the move a day before the season opener against the Titans. The Raiders had signed Tavecchio on Friday as insurance if Janikowski wasn’t healed and brought him to Tennessee in case he needed to be activated.
Janikowski, 39, joined the Raiders as a surprise first-round pick in 2000 and is one of the few remaining ties to late owner Al Davis. The only player on the active roster who was with the team before Davis died in October 2011 is long snapper Jon Condo.