Seahawks Kick Off 2026 NFL Season Wednesday Against Patriots; Donald Out for Rams Opener

The 2026 NFL season officially begins on Wednesday night with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. This unique Wednesday kickoff is the second in 107 years of NFL history, a scheduling adjustment made to accommodate a Thursday night game in Australia. The Seahawks, aiming to repeat as Super Bowl champions, will be looking to assert dominance at home against a Patriots team they've already faced in the league's biggest game.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams will be without a key defensive player for their season opener. Legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald is reportedly not expected to play in the Rams' game against the San Francisco 49ers, and will not even travel with the team to Australia for their international matchup. The absence of Donald raises questions about when the veteran defensive star will make his debut in the 2026 season.