THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams’ Aaron Donald will play his 100th NFL game Sunday night. To the San Francisco 49ers, it probably feels as if he has played 100 against them alone.
Somebody pointed out to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan that Donald is coming off a great game in which he sacked Washington quarterbacks four times to take the NFL season lead with 7 1/2 sacks and earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“I don’t know when I’ve ever gone against him when he hasn’t been coming off a great game,” Shanahan replied. “That’s what he does.”
Worse for the 49ers, Donald also is usually going into a great game when he gets ready to play them. His previous four-sack game was at San Francisco in 2018. He has at least one sack in his last six games against the Niners. His 11 1/2 sacks in 11 games against the Rams’ historic division rivals are the defensive tackle’s highest rate against any opponent that he has faced more than five times.
And with San Francisco giving up the fourth-most sacks in the NFL this season and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo coming off an ankle injury but expected to play, Sunday’s game between the Rams (4-1) and 49ers (2-3) in Santa Clara could be another big one for Donald.
At this time last season, Donald was fending off questions about why he had only one sack through five games. Now, he’s fending off questions about why he’s off to the fastest start of his career in that category.
Donald never likes to dwell on last week’s game, but four sacks can’t be ignored.
It was a satisfying afternoon, he admitted, tying his career high and leading an eight-sack defensive attack in the Rams’ 30-10 victory at Washington.
“Hell, yeah,” Donald said Thursday in a video conference with reporters. “That’s what you work for, to be productive like that and help your team win games. That’s what it’s about.”
It was a lesson about what can happen if an opponent allows Donald to work against a single blocker too often (he can get a lot of sacks), and if an opponent gangs up on him (teammates can get a lot of sacks).
“We’ve got a good group that’s been having success in finding ways to get to the quarterback even when I’m not,” Donald said after a game in which linebacker Troy Reeder had the first three sacks of his career.
It also was a showcase for Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s plan to start Donald from different spots along the defensive line to complicate opponents’ task.
Donald’s four sacks of Kyle Allen (one) and Alex Smith (three) came when he took advantage of one-on-one blocking by left guard Wes Martin and right guard Wes Schweitzer.
“We have been able to move him around. I think he has a big-picture understanding of what the intent is behind moving him around,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.
Wherever he begins plays, he often ends them at the quarterback.
Donald’s league-lead in sacks is one reason he’s on his way to a Rams-record sixth All-Pro season.
The Rams’ tie with Pittsburgh for the league lead in sacks (20) is one reason they’re off to a strong start after five games against eastern teams.
The first of the Rams’ six games in the NFC West has Donald pumped up.
“It’s a divisional game, a team we play twice a year. It’s always going to be a dogfight. We know what to expect,” Donald said.
“We have to go to that mindset that we’re back in the division now. That’s when the anchor’s down, and that’s when we’ve got to do a little bit more now.”
The 49ers have seen it too many times before.
Notes
In unusual Rams injury news, running backs coach Thomas Brown was having his lower leg examined Thursday afternoon after limping off the practice field during drills, a team official said. … Linebacker Micah Kiser (groin) was still limited in practice Thursday, making his return uncertain after he missed the Washington game. Offensive lineman and special teams player Bobby Evans (shoulder) returned to full practice. … Outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (elbow) will go on injured reserve in the next couple of days, McVay said. The coach has said the injury will keep Okoronkwo out at least four weeks. … Sunday’s game will be the Rams’ 141st against San Francisco dating back to 1950, by far the most they’ve played against any opponent. The 49ers lead the regular-season series 70-67-1. It’s 3-3 with McVay and Shanahan coaching. The NIners won both games last year, the Rams won both in 2018.
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