Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald embarrassed over loss to Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald sat on the sidelines at Lambeau Field and couldn’t hold back tears as the clock boiled down to a 32-18 loss to the Packers of Green Bay in a division round.

Rams coach Sean McVay and defensive line coach Eric Henderson tried to console Donald, who played just a week on Saturday after sustaining a serious rib injury in a playoff victory.

“I love Aaron Donald, it means a lot to him,” McVay said after the game, “and it’s a shame he wasn’t at full power today.”

Ahead of Saturday’s game, Donald said he felt good, strong and would be ready to play. But the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was clearly limited against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Wearing protective padding on his ribs, Donald only played 55% of the shots, down from his season average of 85%, although McVay said he was not on an instant count.

“Aaron is able to submit,” McVay said. “The plan was to see what he feels, he still has the ability to tell us how he feels.”

Donald was passed in 15 of his 21 assists and failed to register a passing victory – beating a block in 2.5 seconds – for only the second time since 2017, according to ESPN metrics provided by NFL Next Gen Stats. He registered some pressure against Rodgers, but the Packers quarterback completed a 33-yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan on the play.

Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers expressed disappointment for Donald after the game.

“It’s hard for a guy like that to work as hard as him to put everything he does,” Brockers said, later adding, “[I] you just gotta talk to him, let him know, ‘Man, it’s not about you, it’s not about you – there’s no reason for you to feel that way, [that] you feel like you’ve failed or something. You gave us everything you had and you are the reason we are here. ‘”

Donald finished the regular season second in the NFL with 13.5 sacks and added two more in the 30-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Rams defense finished the regular season ranked first in the NFL in efficiency, yards allowed per game (281.9) and points allowed per game (18.5).

However, Rodgers and the Packers racked up 484 total yards on offense and kept the Rams’ defense on the field, dominating possession time 36:12 to 23:48.

Prior to Saturday, the Rams hadn’t let an opponent score this season in their first three practices, but the Packers have scored five straight times to open the game, including a 14-game, 84-yard touchdown that s’ is extended when Donald – in apparent frustration – received a penalty for unnecessary roughness when he grabbed the mask from offensive lineman Elgton Jenkin.

Donald was not made available to reporters after the game.