San Francisco 49ers enter season opener against Aaron Donald with no answer at left guard
Aaron Donald is returning to the NFL at 35, and the first team he faces is the San Francisco 49ers. The Los Angeles Rams announced the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's comeback Sunday after a two-year…
Key takeaways
- Aaron Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is returning to the NFL at 35 with the Los Angeles Rams after a two-year retirement, with his first game against the San Francisco 49ers.
- The season opener is set for September 10 in Australia, a game the Rams and 49ers will play as NFC West rivals.
- 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said he does not know who will start at left guard for the opener, calling the interior line situation fluid.
- The 49ers enter the opener depleted by injuries and off-field issues, including Nick Bosa (ACL recovery), George Kittle (Achilles), Ricky Pearsall (season-ending knee surgery), Shanahan's July car crash, and owner Jed York's arrest.
- The NFL granted Donald a roster exemption that could let the Rams hold him out of the September 10 game if he needs more preparation time.
Aaron Donald is returning to the NFL at 35, and the first team he faces is the San Francisco 49ers. The Los Angeles Rams announced the three-time Defensive Player of the Year's comeback Sunday after a two-year retirement, setting up a September 10 opener in Australia against a franchise that cannot name a left guard starter and has spent the summer absorbing one significant loss after another across its roster and front office.
The depth of the damage is considerable. Head coach Kyle Shanahan was involved in a head-on collision in July after he looked for his phone while his Tesla's autopilot feature was engaged. The crash left Shanahan with broken bones, facial lacerations, and a concussion.
A roster that has not practiced together
Defensive end Nick Bosa has not practiced in four weeks, still working back from ACL surgery. Tight end George Kittle, recovering from a torn Achilles repair, has been absent from training camp throughout, despite reports placing him ahead of schedule. 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall required knee surgery in the first week of August, ending his 2026 season before it started.
Majority owner Jed York was arrested in a prostitution sting by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force in Ohio, then pleaded no contest to lesser charges. An NFL Personal Conduct Policy review is ongoing.
The Donald problem and the left guard the 49ers don't have
Donald addressed his preparation at his comeback news conference. He ran full-speed on the treadmill and lifted weights throughout the two years away, and the trainer who has known him since high school told him he had not missed a step. The 49ers and Rams play twice in the NFC West.
Shanahan, speaking Monday, said he does not know who starts at left guard for the opener. Rookie fourth-round pick Carver Willis went through training camp evaluation, but the team's uncertainty drove a trade with the Houston Texans for depth player Jarrett Patterson, who arrived less than two days before Shanahan's comments. Shanahan said he wants Patterson in the group for three practices before making any decision, calling the situation fluid across multiple interior positions.
The NFL granted Donald a roster exemption that could allow the Rams to hold him out of the September 10 game if they determine he needs more preparation time. The 49ers depart for Australia after Wednesday's practice.