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Donald: Officials missed 'blatant' holding penalties during MNF

Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Aaron Donald has been invisible on the stat sheet over the Los Angeles Rams' last two games, failing to register a single tackle or sack. But he has an explanation.

"In my opinion, they hold every play," Donald said, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry.

The 29-year-old defensive tackle then specifically addressed the Rams' Monday Night Football clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"There was some blatant holds that we didn't get the call for," he said of the contest.

Donald referenced one instance in which Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady appeared to be stripped of the ball on a play that was ultimately ruled an incomplete pass.

"I feel like (Rams defensive end Morgan Fox) got the ball out, so that should have been a sack anyway," he said. "And if it wasn't, it should have been a holding call and a safety because (Buccaneers offensive tackle Donovan Smith) held me in the end zone."

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year said he's expressed his frustration to officials but won't let it affect his play.

"All the damn time I talk to them," he said. "I say, 'You got to see that holding call,' they say they don't see it. I'm like, 'Man, the guy got me around my neck, grabbed, pulled my shirt, I just beat a guy with a clean rush.'

"But it's alright; hopefully, I'm gonna get one sooner or later that's gonna help us big time, so I just got to keep playing."

Though he hasn't appeared in the box score of late, the six-time Pro Bowler isn't overly concerned about his recent lack of sacks.

"At the end of the day, I don't think I'm playing bad football," he said. "I feel like I'm disruptive ... Guys around me (are) making plays, too, so it's not nothing that I'm mad about."

Donald has been one of the NFL's premier interior pass-rushers since entering the league, recording 81 sacks over seven pro seasons.

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