Aaron Donald is set to return. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Saturday that the star defensive tackle will suit up for Los Angeles in Week 2’s Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants — “If he said it, he’s going,” McVay told The Athletic — and Donald himself told the L.A. Times on Friday that he planned to play.
Donald originally retired after the 2023 season following a Hall of Fame-caliber run: Pro Bowl selections every year, eight First-Team All-Pro nods in a 10-year span, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and career totals that include 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss and 260 quarterback hits. He came out of retirement during training camp and re-signed with the Rams on a one-year contract worth $20 million, with incentives that could push the deal toward $30 million — a comeback he hinted at after the Rams acquired Myles Garrett and finalized shortly before the season began.
Donald was inactive for Los Angeles’ Week 1 game in Australia against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, a contest in which Garrett didn’t look like himself; Garrett later underwent knee surgery and was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, meaning the pair won’t yet be lining up together. The Rams will sorely need Donald’s presence inside the defensive front after the 49ers efficiently attacked both the run and pass, but how much he’ll play early on after stepping away from football remains to be seen.
Fan Take: This matters because Aaron Donald’s return instantly raises the ceiling of the Rams’ defense and gives fans hope for a faster turnaround for the unit. If he reclaims even a portion of his dominant form, it could shift the balance in the NFC and make defensive matchups far more compelling this season.
Source: www.cbssports.com
