Heading into the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Rams still have the cloud of Aaron Donald's contract holdout hanging over the NFL franchise.

This has continued into Week 1 as Donald has remained away from the team while eyeing a lucrative long-term extension. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the three-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to miss Week 1 action.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is expected to miss Sunday's season opener against the Indianapolis Colts as he continues his prolonged holdout, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
It had come to be expected as there haven't been any new developments in the contract discussions between both sides. The Rams have voiced more optimism about the situation in recent weeks, but that has yet to translate over into a new deal being hammered out.
Donald's absence could have a significant impact in the season opener against the Colts as rookie sixth-round pick Tanzel Smart is expected to take up his spot in the lineup.
The 26-year-old has developed into arguably the best defensive player in the league over his first three seasons as he leads all defensive tackles with 28.0 sacks and 57.0 tackles for loss over that span.
With it now bleeding into the regular season, it will be interesting to see how long this entire situation plays out over the next few weeks.