With the Rams-Packers, Aaron Donald returns to the scene crying-Pasadena Star News

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THOUSAND OAKS – The last time Aaron Donald saw Lambeau Field, it was in tears.

Donald’s eyes were glowing and he was entertained by teammates as he stood on the sidelines and watched the Rams season in the Green Bay Packers ’32-18 win in the second round of the NFC playoffs in January.

Playing nearly half of the Rams ’defensive snaps and only making one tackle due to a rib injury sustained last week was just one factor in Donald’s frustration. Losing another shot in the Super Bowl was offensive enough.

“I just care,” Donald said this week what those tears mean. “That’s what it comes down to, just cares.”

Aaron Donald is emotional on the side. pic.twitter.com/lgrMRLtQZ9

– FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 17, 2021

Defensive tackle wants to talk about returning this Sunday to Lambeau Field when the Rams (7-3) face the Packers (8-3). The three -time NFL Defensive Player of the Year didn’t want to let go last year.

But Donald said he was extra motivated for this game because of what happened in that game.

“There are a lot of things that motivate me, but you can say that, yes,” he said.

Upon hearing that Donald could have a new level of motivation, Packers coach Matt LaFleur could only respond with a joke.

“I want to cry,” LaFleur said at a Zoom session with Green Bay and LA journalists on Thursday.

Donald and the Rams had a good shot at revenge.

Despite losses to the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers before last week’s farewell, the Rams are a better team than losing to the Packers as a seven -point underdog in the divisional round, with Matthew Stafford as quarterback instead. who was a sore- thumbed Jared Goff and league-leading wide receiver Cooper Kupp who was healthy after missing that game due to a knee injury.

With Packers quarterback Aaron Donald facing a broken left pinky toe, David Bakhtiari (knee) unexpectedly playing and guard Elgton Jenkins (knee) on the injured reserve, bettors moved the Rams from one-point underdog on Tuesday to one- favorite points on Thursday.

If edge rusher Leonard Floyd plays after coming out of the 49ers game with a concussion, and linebacker Von Miller gets more attention from blockers in his second Rams game, Donald can look forward to chances -pressure Rodgers.

The NFL says this will be the first game since 2011 to feature the reigning Most Valuable Player quarterback and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m always eager to catch up with any quarterback,” said Donald, who has six sacks this season. “But watching him in the movie, he doesn’t look like he has a foot injury. So, I don’t really believe it. He is good at playing football. ”

The question may be whether you can avenge the playoff defeat by winning the regular season. Donald rested that by talking about how important this game is for the Rams, who are seeking their first win against the over-.500 since they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in September.

“I feel like you have to come into this game thinking it’s a playoff game,” said Donald, who declared himself “100% healthy.” “So I would think this is an important week for us. We’re playing for something. So, we went out there and did it. ”

Donald remembers his inability to contribute to the playoff game on Jan. 16 as a disappointment. But coaches see his attempt to play as a measure of his greatness.

“If Aaron Donald didn’t play another snap today, he would be a Hall of Fame player,” Rams coach Sean McVay said this week. “He’s all about the right thing. He wants to win. He wants to do everything for this team to try to help his teammates, to achieve success together.

“And I think there was a lot of emotion because (that defeat) represents the finality of the chase to try to be a world champion.”

This is also what LaFleur saw when he watched Donald up close in the 2017 season as McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Rams.

“I have a lot of respect for him, how he approaches the game, his work ethic, what kind of teammate he is,” LaFleur said. “Every play, his motor is non-stop. And then you look at his playing time, and he plays almost the entire game every week.

“I certainly don’t want him to be overly motivated.”

STARS

The Rams put defensive tackle Marquise Copeland on the active roster and filled his spot on the practice squad by signing unstructured Texas A&M linebacker Anthony Hines III. Copeland has been called up to the 53-man roster the past two games and made seven tackles against the 49ers. … The strong wind, even by Thousand Oaks standards, prompted the Rams to make a short walk-through of training on Thanksgiving morning. … Packers coach Matt LaFleur said the game status of running back to Aaron Jones (knee) is unlikely to be decided before Sunday.

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