Aaron Donald mum on plans for season opener

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan expects to see Aaron Donald on Thursday night, but like Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula earlier Monday, the defensive tackle declined to reveal his plans for the game in Australia.

The Rams are scheduled to leave for Melbourne on Tuesday night, and Donald wouldn’t even commit to being on the flight.

“Taking it day by day. Come up with a game plan to see what’s going on,” Donald said, via video from Nick Hamilton of NBCLA. “Feeling good, feeling really good. Come up with a game plan and see.

“Honestly, man, I really do feel good. Things are clicking faster than I thought it would be. Even my first day out there, with 11-on-11, things would be a little all over the place. Settled in. A couple of plays a little rusty. It ain’t where I want it to be, but it’s pretty damn good if you ask me. To not play football in two years, to be moving how I’m moving, it’s really no dropoff. It’s not where I want to be. I can see it. I know there are things I want to clean up, that I’m going to clean up. The more reps I do, the more I play, it’ll get there.”

Donald has started 11-on-11 drills in practice, but Monday was a planned recovery day. He worked on his cardio and did weight work instead.

“I’m 35,” Donald said.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has not played in the NFL since 2023.