Aaron Donald ends holdout and reports to Rams on eve of opener, though without a new contract

Staff Writer

Sept. 9, 2017 2:55 PM PT

A restful night’s sleep on the eve of his first game as an NFL coach is not part of Sean McVay’s game plan.

“I’ll probably just wake up every hour, tossing and turning, excited about the game,” McVay said.

McVay no doubt rested a bit easier Saturday after star defensive lineman Aaron Donald ended his holdout because of a contract dispute and reported to the team, though without a new deal.

Donald won’t play in Sunday’s season opener against the Indianapolis Colts at the Coliseum, but at least he’ll be in the building. And that’s a victory of sorts for the Rams and McVay.

After months of fielding questions about Donald’s status, McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips next week can finally begin to see how the three-time Pro Bowl player fits in Phillips’ 3-4 scheme.

Donald, 26, was the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. He has accrued 28 sacks and is regarded as one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive players.

Donald has two years remaining on a rookie contract that will pay him $1.8 million this season and about $6.9 million in 2018. By arriving before the opener, he ensured that he would earn a weekly game check of nearly $106,000.

The Rams and Donald’s representatives are expected to continue working on a new contract, though there is no guarantee an agreement will be reached this season. If not, that could set up a similar holdout scenario next season.

Donald is believed to be seeking a deal that would make him the NFL’s highest paid defensive player.

In 2016, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller signed a six-year, $114.5-million contract, with $70 million guaranteed.

The year before, defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh signed a six- year, $114.4-million contract with the Miami Dolphins that included a $25.5-million signing bonus and nearly $60 million guaranteed.

Rams executives flew to Atlanta late last month to meet with Donald’s agents but no agreement was reached.

So at this point, McVay, at 31 the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, is just happy to have Donald in the fold, possibly for a Week 2 matchup against the Washington Redskins, McVay’s former employer.

Since his hiring in January, McVay has said all the right things while infusing the organization with youthful energy. He appears to have earned respect from players with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

Now he must start to show Rams fans that he can actually coach.

McVay helped develop Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins into one of the league’s top passers, and he is charged with doing the same for Rams quarterback Jared Goff.

The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft went 0-7 as a late-season starter. He appears much more confident as the undisputed starter.

“Getting all the reps through the offseason has been huge,” Goff said, adding, “Just comfortability and just being where I want to be mentally, physically, emotionally, everything.”

Goff, 22, said he would have normal “jitters” at the outset of all first games of the season.

“There will be some of that, but I’ve never really had many issues with being able to stay calm,” he said, “so I’ll just continue to do what I do.”

The Rams have surrounded Goff with upgraded weapons as they attempt to leave behind their status as the NFL’s worst offense.

They signed receiver Robert Woods, drafted tight end Gerald Everett and receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds and traded for receiver Sammy Watkins. They also signed veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth to protect Goff and stabilize a line that must open holes for running back Todd Gurley.

“We feel a lot more comfortable with the offensive schemes that we’ve been running the last four, five months,” said Gurley, who starred as a rookie in 2015 but struggled last season. “We just can’t wait to get out there.”

Said Woods: “This offense can hit you from every angle. You can attack from every part of the field.”

When the NFL schedule was announced last spring, the Rams thought they would be trying to stop Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. But Luck is still recovering from shoulder surgery, so they will instead face journeyman Scott Tolzien.

That should help a defense that will feature fourth-year pro Ethan Westbrooks and rookie Tanzel Smart playing in rotation at the spot Donald will occupy when he returns to the lineup.

McVay is expected to address the details of that situation after the opener.

He said this week that he would not break from routine as he prepared for his first game as a head coach.

“By the time Sunday at 1 o’clock rolls around, it will be a fun time,” he said. “And it will probably set in how humbling and what a blessing it is to be able to do this.”

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UPDATES:

2:55 p.m.: This article has been updated with additional details about Aaron Donald’s contract situation and comments from coach Sean McVay.

This article was originally published at 11:50 a.m.