Add The California Post on Google Aaron Donald wasn’t giving anything away Monday about his playing or traveling status for the Rams Australian season opener against the 49ers on Thursday.
With Donald’s availability for Thursday’s Rams-49ers season opener in Melbourne still officially up in the air, the league’s social media account dropped an interesting post Tuesday morning promoting the game.
“lots of star power will be on display in Melbourne,” the NFL wrote.
And there, prominently featured alongside Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, Christian McCaffrey and Nick Bosa, was Donald.
Does the NFL know something the rest of us don’t?
Or did somebody in the league’s graphics department simply decide that when you have Aaron Donald available to promote one of the NFL’s biggest international showcases, you put Aaron Donald on the poster and worry about the fine print later?
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) at practice at the Rams Practice Facility on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in Woodland Hills, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect But the timing certainly raises an eyebrow.
Donald repeatedly declined Monday to say whether he would travel to Australia, much less play against the 49ers, sticking instead to variations of “feeling really good” and saying the Rams would formulate a plan.
The Rams have been equally careful. Sean McVay has maintained they won’t play Donald unless they believe he’s ready, and with two seasons separating Donald from his last NFL game, there are legitimate physical benchmarks that have to be cleared.
Still, Donald acknowledged Monday that his first taste of 11-on-11 work went better than he anticipated. He feels good. His body has responded. And the clock is ticking toward Thursday.
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) at practice at the Rams Practice Facility on Sunday, August 30, 2026, in Woodland Hills, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Which brings us back to that graphic.
Just a social-media team putting the biggest stars possible on a poster for one of the NFL’s biggest international showcases.
But until the Rams tell us otherwise, it’s at least worth wondering:
Did the NFL’s social-media team accidentally get ahead of the news?
