Donald will miss Sunday's game against Seahawks
THOUSAND OAKS » Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald will miss his first game due to injury in his career after he was ruled out of Sunday's home game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Donald injured his ankle during the first quarter of last week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and managed to finish the game. Donald has missed only two games in his nineyear career, both coming in 2017. The first was the season opener due to a contract dispute. He was also out for the regular-season finale because of rest.
“That's what makes Aaron Aaron,” Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Wednesday. “He's unbelievable. To be able to play through that, the toughness, everything that he embodies is what you love about Aaron Donald.”
McVay said that Donald's ankle injury won't require surgery and the team will take it a week at a time with the threetime NFL defensive player of the year.
The interior of the Rams defensive line will be thin Sunday without Donald and A'Shawn Robinson, who's out for the season with a torn meniscus. The Rams will likely lean on defensive linemen Greg Gaines, Michael Hoecht and Marquise Copeland to fill the void.
“Significant,” McVay said about the loss of Donald. “So much of it is built around him. He's truly one of one and so you don't replace anybody like him.
“Guys will be asked to step up. I have confidence in those guys, but I think Aaron's resume speaks for itself. The way that he works, the way he brings others with him, so it's a huge loss for us.”
Stafford likely out for 2nd straight game
The Rams will likely also be without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford for the second consecutive game because he remains in the concussion protocol.
McVay said it's “safe to say” he will be out against the Seahawks.
McVay mentioned that Stafford is dealing with a neck injury and wasn't diagnosed with a concussion. Stafford felt numbness in his legs after taking a hit against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11 and was placed in the concussion protocol for the second time this season. Stafford suffered a concussion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 and was sidelined the following week versus the Arizona Cardinals.
“I'll say this, there haven't been any setbacks, and so that's a good, positive thing,” McVay said about Stafford. “I'll have updates as the week progresses.”
McVay declined to name a starting quarterback for Sunday, with Bryce Perkins and John Wolford vying for the position. Perkins started against the Chiefs, but he struggled to make plays with his arm. Wolford struggled in his start against the Cardinals in Week 10.