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· collected 2026-09-04 · by Greg Beacham The Associated Press
Rams coach Sean McVay announced that the team's entire roster will travel to Australia for their regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, but the playing status of defensive tackle Aaron Donald is still undetermined. The Rams are preparing for the game at their training complex in Woodland Hills before flying to Melbourne less than 48 hours beforehand. McVay expressed confidence that Donald has made significant progress in his return from retirement, but noted that he will take it "a day at a time" before deciding whether Donald will play. No exact numbers or specifics are mentioned regarding the extent of Donald's participation or the impact of the Rams' travel approach on the team's performance.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Los Angeles Rams are planning to travel their entire roster to Australia for their regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, which will be played on September 8 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. However, the team's coach, Sean McVay, has not yet confirmed whether defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who recently ended his retirement, will play in the game. Despite having made significant progress in getting back into game shape, McVay stated that he still doesn't have a sense of whether Donald is ready to suit up alongside Myles Garrett. The Rams are preparing for the trip at their training complex in Woodland Hills before flying out less than 48 hours before the game. San Francisco, on the other hand, flew to Australia earlier this week and has been doing its full week of preparation on site.
Written for “Los Angeles Rams Australia Trip” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 4156 · logged 2026-09-04
The Los Angeles Rams’ entire roster will travel to Australia for their regular-season opener next week, but coach Sean McVay still isn’t sure whether unretired defensive tackle Aaron Donald will play.
asserted
Donald → travel → opener
McVay announced his plans Friday for the Rams while they began preparations for their trip to Melbourne, where they will meet the rival San Francisco 49ers.
asserted
they → announce → 49ers
The Rams were initially equivocal on whether Donald would make the long trip for the NFL’s first international game in Australia.
asserted
Donald → make → Australia
The 35-year-old superstar only ended his retirement last weekend, rejoining the Rams after 2 1/2 years away.
asserted
superstar → end → years
McVay said the Rams still haven’t decided whether Donald will suit up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground alongside Myles Garrett, but Donald has clearly made significant progress in his return to game shape.
asserted
Donald → say → shape
“I don’t have that sense quite yet,” McVay said.
asserted
McVay → have → sense
“I think (the ramp-up process) has been really good.
asserted
process → think → ?
He’s so intentional about his rhythm and routine.
asserted
He → ’ → rhythm
This week will be a big week for him in terms of how he feels, and then we’ll take it a day at a time and see where he’s at.
asserted
he → feel → where
If he feels good enough to go, great.
asserted
he → feel → ?
If not, I have a lot of confidence in the other guys that’ll be ready to step up if that’s the case, that have really gotten all the reps anyway.”
asserted
that → have → reps
Garrett is expected to play in Melbourne despite missing more than a dozen training camp workouts with soreness and a minor knee concern, while All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua is also expected to play after making significant progress in his return from a core muscle injury incurred three weeks ago.
asserted
Nacua → expect → injury
“He’s feeling good,” McVay said.
asserted
McVay → feel → ?
“Been hitting some high-speed yards at a really good clip, and when we get back out there, it’ll be fun to have him.”
asserted
it → hit → him
The Rams are completing their full week of preparation for the 49ers at their training complex in Woodland Hills before flying to Australia less than 48 hours before the game, which will be played Friday morning in Melbourne and Thursday night in the U.S.
San Francisco took the near-opposite approach, flying to Australia earlier this week and doing its full week of preparation on site.
asserted
Francisco → complete → site
McVay strongly believes in the correctness of the Rams’ approach to international games.
asserted
McVay → believe → games
They’ve honed it in previous years on trips to London and to Mexico City, yet McVay realizes that no NFL team has ever traveled as far as the Rams and 49ers for this Week 1 showdown.
asserted
team → hone → showdown
“The thinking in its simplest form is, what do we deem the best for our football players, and for them to try to be at their best?” McVay asked.
asserted
McVay → deem → best
“There are different approaches and theories, but I do have a lot of trust in our group, and we’ll see.
asserted
we → be → group
Hopefully it works out.
asserted
it → work → ?
I know that we’ve got a bunch of guys that I think will feel good about the plan.”
asserted
I → know → plan
