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Aaron Donald Not at Rams Training Camp Amid Contract Extension Talks
July 25, 2018
Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald didn't report to the team's training camp on Wednesday, a Rams official confirmed to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Donald is entering the final year of his rookie deal with Los Angeles and will make $6.8 million in 2018. This would be the second year in which the four-time Pro Bowler held out.
Ahead of the 2017 campaign, he didn't report to the team until Sept. 9, one day before the Rams' 46-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
On Tuesday, the Rams announced they signed Todd Gurley to a four-year extension. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal is worth $60 million with $45 million guaranteed. Gurley was an All-Pro and the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, so locking him up long term makes sense for Los Angeles.
Still, some couldn't help but view the deals for Gurley and Brandin Cooks, who got a five-year extension earlier this month, through the prism of Donald's contract situation:
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez countered both of those extensions could actually aid the Rams as they gauge the financial implications of Donald's next deal:
Alden Gonzalez @Alden_GonzalezRams happy to get out in front of coming RB deals; waiting on that market carried risk. They also believe getting deals done for Gurley and Cooks gives them some baseline to figure something out for Goff, Peters and Donald. They'd like to keep all 3 and have cap space to do so.
Rams general manager Les Snead echoed that sentiment during a press conference Tuesday.
"Each situation is different, different players, different agents and all of that," Snead said, per SB Nation's Turf Show Times. "You work on everything simultaneously, but you really don't know when you're going to get something done or not because it's case by case."
Based on last offseason, Donald will be in no hurry to report to the team without an agreement in place for a long-term extension.
The Rams start the preseason Aug. 9 against the Baltimore Ravens and kick off the regular season Sept. 10 against the Oakland Raiders.