Aaron Donald's return to NFL action will wait until at least the second week of the season.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Tuesday that Donald will not play in Los Angeles' regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, which kicks off at 8:35 p.m. ET on Thursday night.
"I think he'll be ready to go sooner rather than later, but we're making a decision that we think is best for him and for our team," McVay said. "... It will add value when he's ready to go, but being two years off retirement, he's attacked this the right way, but it would have been a really quick turnaround."
Donald declined to discuss his plans for Week 1 when speaking with reporters on Monday.
"Feeling good, feeling really good. Come up with a game plan and see," Donald said when asked if he planned to travel to Australia.
Donald reiterated the same message when asked if he would play period.
"Feeling really good," he said. "Come up with a game plan to see. But I feel great, feel really good."
Well, that game plan is now likely geared toward a Week 2 return against the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21.
Donald officially unretired on Aug. 30 to join the Rams' Super Bowl push and to be featured on a defensive line that already added Myles Garrett earlier this offseason.
While Donald won't suit up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Garrett will be in action after being limited during training camp and the preseason with a knee issue.
McVay told reporters on Tuesday that Garrett will be "ready to go" the league's first-ever regular-season game Down Under, per The Orange County Register.