Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has been considered one of the most durable players in the NFL. After all, Donald has not missed a game since 2017. His reputation as an ironman was so solid that his long-time teammate Michael Brockers didn’t believe it when the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year had to be carted off the field against the Seattle Seahawks last week.
Donald suffered a rib injury in the third quarter of the Rams’ 30-20 NFC wild-card victory over the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The 29-year-old was in visible discomfort before leaving the game and was diagnosed with a torn rib cartilage from the on-field collision.
In a video conference with reporters on Wednesday (via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times), Brockers described how it felt like seeing one of the toughest players he’s ever known go down like that. The 30-year-old defensive end admitted he thought Donald was messing around at first, before realizing it was serious.
“At first it was just like, ‘Dang,’ you know, you didn’t know that Superman could get hurt.”
Brockers initially thought Donald might be joking, but it soon became clear that the injury was more than a case of getting the wind knocked out of him.
Aptly given the nickname “The Terminator”, Aaron Donald has played in 106 of a total of 110 games since joining the league in 2014. He has also suited up in five playoff games for the Rams. Luckily for the Los ANgeles, Donald is already living up to his moniker and is expected to be back on the gridiron when they take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday’s Divisional Round. Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed this positive development on Tuesday.
