Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald, injured, thrilled by the loss to the Green Bay Packers

The Los Angeles Rams attack, Aaron Donald, stayed on the sideline at Lambeau Field and failed to contain his tears when the clock dropped to a 32-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers in a playoff of the divisional round.

Rams coach Sean McVay and defensive line coach Eric Henderson tried to console Donald, who played on Saturday just a week after suffering a significant rib injury in a playoff wild card victory.

“I love Aaron Donald, it means a lot to him,” said McVay after the game, “and it’s a shame that he wasn’t in full swing today.”

Before Saturday’s game, Donald said he felt good, strong and would be ready to play. But the NFL’s twice Defensive Player of the Year was clearly limited against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Using protective padding on his ribs, Donald played only 55% of the snap, below his average of 85% in the season, although McVay said he was not on a snap count.

“Aaron is able to subdue,” said McVay. “The plan was to see how he felt, he always had the ability to tell us how he is feeling.”

Donald was doubled in 15 of his 21 pass rushes and failed to register a rush pass win – hitting a block in 2.5 seconds – for the second time since 2017, according to ESPN metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats. He registered pressure against Rodgers, however, the Packers quarterback completed a 33-yard pass to tight end Robert Tonyan in the play.

Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers expressed disappointment for Donald after the game.

“It’s hard for a guy like that to work as hard as he does to put in everything he does,” said Brockers, adding later, “[I] I just need to talk to him, let him know: ‘Man, this is not about you, this is not about you – there is no reason for you to feel this way [that] you feel like you’ve failed or something. You gave us everything you had and you are the reason why we are here. ‘”

Donald finished the regular season in second place in the NFL with 13.5 sacks and added two more in the 30-20 wild card victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Rams defense ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in the NFL in efficiency, yards allowed per game (281.9) and points allowed per game (18.5).

However, Rodgers and the Packers accumulated 484 yards in the attack and maintained the Rams’ defense on the field, dominating possession time from 36:12 to 23:48.

Before Saturday, the Rams had not allowed an opponent to score in the first three attempts, but the Packers scored in five straight to open the game, including an 84-yard touchdown and 14 plays that was prolonged when Donald – in apparent frustration – received a penalty for unnecessary harshness when he grabbed the mask of striker Elgton Jenkin.

Donald was not made available to reporters after the game.