Sean McVay expects every Rams player to be on flight to Australia for Week 1, including Aaron Donald

The Los Angeles Rams wont be arriving in Australia with the San Francisco 49ers this week, instead opting to leave Wednesday and arriving the day before kickoff.

But thats not the biggest piece of news regarding the NFLs first-ever game in Australia — its who head coach Sean McVay expects to be on the flight with him down under.

McVay told reporters on Friday that he expects every player to make the trip to Australia, including Aaron Donald, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year who came out of retirement to join what has become a Rams superteam for the 2026 season.

Since he declared he would come out of retirement, Donalds Week 1 status was always in the air. He didnt get the same training camp the rest of the team had, though he is still in tremendous football shape. McVay even noted that hes still not sure what will happen with Donald against their NFC West foe in Week 1.

But the fact Donald will be on the plane means he has a chance to play straight away for Los Angeles. In fact, McVay playing coy could just be gamesmanship for his respected colleague and fellow head coach, Kyle Shanahan.

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Instead, McVay said that the team is taking things "one day at a time" with the eight-time All-Pro defensive tackle who will end up in Canton one day. So, even though he should be on the flight, Rams fans should make sure "cautious" is in front of "optimism" when discussing Donalds Week 1 status.

Its hard for them, and football fans in general, not to be excited about No. 99 returning to the Rams this season. He spent 10 years in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl honors and creating nightmares for every offensive line and quarterback he faced.

If that wasnt enough, Donald will be next to Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a game-wrecker in his own right, on a defensive line made straight out of a video game.

While Rams fans await the return of Donald for real on the gridiron, theyre also looking to see if top wide receiver Puka Nacua will be suiting up against the 49ers as well. McVay gave an update during Fridays presser, saying he is "making good progress" as hes dealt with a psoas injury (core muscle connecting the lower spine and pelvis to thigh bones).

"Been hitting some high-speed yards at a really good clip with [Rams sports medicine and performance senior vice president] Reggie [Scott] and his group. And when we get back out there, itll be fun to have him," McVay said, per ESPN.

The NFL is also still reviewing Nacua under its personal conduct policy regarding an off-the-field lawsuit filed against him. However, he wasnt placed on the commissioners exempt list, meaning he would avoid a suspension at least at the start of the season.

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A woman sued Nacua in March, claiming he made an antisemitic remark during a New Years Eve interaction and allegedly bit her shoulder and her friends thumb. Nacuas lawyer, Levi McCarthern, denied that his client made an antisemitic remark.

So, while it is still possible that Nacua doesnt play Week 1 due to potential discipline from the l