Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will miss a game due to injury for the first time in his NFL career. Donald was ruled out of this Sunday's Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks because of a high ankle sprain. Donald injured his ankle early on against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 but finished the game for Los Angeles.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that the team will take it week by week with Donald's availability, and his ankle injury will not require surgery. McVay said of Donald finishing the game after being injured:"That's what makes Aaron, Aaron. He's unbelievable. I mean, to be able to play through that. The toughness. Everything that he embodies is what you love about Aaron Donald." In 11 games this season, Donald has five sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, 11 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Donald has only missed two games in his career during the 2017 season: one was because his holdout ended the day before the Rams' opener, and the other because McVay rested several players in the last game of the regular season.
In addition to Donald, the Rams are expecting to play without quarterback Matthew Stafford on Sunday, who is dealing with a neck injury and is in the concussion protocol. McVay said Stafford would not practice on Wednesday and said it's "safe to say" he would not play against Seattle. Los Angeles will also be without wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who has a high ankle sprain, and wide receiver Allen Robinson, who has a stress fracture in his foot.
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