Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald kneeled, emotionally in loss to Green Bay Packers

The Los Angeles Rams’ defensive attack, Aaron Donald, stood on the sidelines at Lambeau Field and could not hold back tears as the clock rounded off to a 32-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers in a playoff game .

Rams coach Sean McVay and defensive line coach Eric Henderson tried to comfort Donald, who played only a week on Saturday and did not have a significant rib injury.

“I love Aaron Donald, it means a lot to him,” McVay said after the game, “and it’s a shame he was not at full strength today.”

Donald said before Saturday’s game that he feels good, strong and ready to play. But the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was clearly limited against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

With a protective fill on his ribs, Donald played only 55% of the snaps, compared to his season average of 85%, though McVay said he did not count fast.

“Aaron can subdue himself,” McVay said. ‘The plan was to see how he felt. He always has the ability to tell us how he feels. ‘

Donald was doubled on 15 of his 21 pass rushes and could not score a pass victory – beating a block in 2.5 seconds – only for the second time since 2017, according to ESPN statistics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats . He put pressure on Rodgers, but the Packers quarterback put down a 33-yard pass to play Robert Tonyan at stake.

The Rams’ defensive line, Michael Brockers, disappointed Donald after the game.

“It’s hard for such a man to work so hard as to put in everything he does,” Brockers said, adding later: “[I] just talk to him, let him know, ‘Man, it’s not you, it’s not you – there’s no reason for you to feel that way, [that] you feel like you failed or something. You have given everything you had, and you are the reason we are here. ”

Donald ends the regular season in second place in the NFL with 13.5 bags and adds two more in the 30-20 game card win over Seattle Seahawks.

The Rams defense finished the normal season in first place in the NFL, which was efficient, allowing yards per game (281.9) and points per game (18.5).

However, Rodgers and the Packers took a total of 484 yards offense and kept the Rams’ defense on the field and the time of possession possession, 36:12 to 23:48.

Before Saturday, the Rams did not let an opponent score on his first three slides this season, but the Packers scored on five straight points to open the game, including an 84-yard run from 84 yards that was extended when Donald – in apparent frustration – imposed a penalty for unnecessary rudeness when he grabbed the attacking linebacker Elgton Jenkin’s face mask.

Donald was not made available to reporters after the game.