Aaron Donald didn’t need a long tease, a flashy video, or a slow-burn rollout to make the point. He went straight to the classic two-word message and made it official: “I'm Back.”
That’s the same kind of blunt, iconic return announcement Michael Jordan used when he came back to the Chicago Bulls, and it fits Donald’s own stature. Few athletes can borrow that line without sounding ridiculous. Donald can.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 30, 2026
The Rams defensive tackle hasn’t played since the 2023 season, but his resume already sits in rare air. Over a 10-year career, he built a case as one of the best defensive players in NFL history, collecting three Defensive Player of the Year awards, 10 Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl LVI ring. He walked away while still in his prime, and now he’s officially back with Los Angeles.
At 35, Donald still gives the Rams another weapon on a defense that has been loaded up around him. Los Angeles added reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett during the offseason, traded for Trent McDuffie and signed Jaylen Watson in free agency.
That’s a serious group, and it lands alongside an offense that already includes Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Stafford, of course, was last year’s MVP.
That’s why the Rams suddenly look like one of the clearest Super Bowl favorites on the board. Donald’s return doesn’t just bring back a familiar face - it drops an all-time great into a roster already built to chase a title.
Winning three championships after retirement, the way Jordan did, may be a stretch. But Aaron Donald is back, and that alone changes the conversation.
In Other News...
Steelers Cut Just Drew Immediate Interest From Another Team
The Cardinals added some familiar depth to the secondary, signing cornerback D'Shawn Jamison to the practice squad after he worked out for the team. Jamison had just been waived by the Steelers during final roster cuts and arrives with experience from both Pittsburgh and Carolina, where his value has largely come on special teams.
Arizonas cornerback room has been stretched a bit, with five players on the active roster and one starter currently injured. That made the workout worth watching, and Jamisons quick landing spot suggests the Cardinals were looking for someone who could help right away while adding another layer of insurance to a thin position group. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Opener Picture Is Shifting As Key Roster Decisions Take Shape
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LaFleur also said James Conner was moved to injured reserve to give him more time to recover, a decision that underscores how carefully the Cardinals are managing the early part of the season. Across the league, Lions GM Brad Holmes offered a similar update on Isiah Pacheco, saying the back injury has been improving without attaching a timetable, a reminder that a lot of teams are heading toward opening day with key pieces still in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face A Week 1 O-Line Question They Cant Ignore
The Cardinals have spent most of August trying to settle the details along their offensive line, and Isaiah Adams knee injury has now pushed one of the biggest questions right to the front. Adams, the projected starter at right guard, got hurt before a preseason game, leaving his status for Week 1 against the Chargers up in the air at a spot where continuity matters and the margin for error is thin.
Mike LaFleur said Adams is progressing and doing well, but next weeks practice work will be the real test of whether he is ready to go. In the meantime, Jon Gaines has stepped in at right guard, and Arizonas options beyond him are limited because of other injuries, which makes this one of those early-season situations the Cardinals cannot afford to let drift too long. [Read more 🡒]