The Aaron Donald comeback watch is still rolling, and the Los Angeles Rams are treating it like a real possibility even as they plan for life either way.
Donald, who announced his retirement on social media in March 2024, has already worked out with the Rams twice, including again on Aug. 16 at the Woodland Hills facility. The idea of a return picked up steam after Donald said the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett got him thinking about whether that fire could light back up.
Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday the team isn’t building its plan around a maybe. Instead, the front office is preparing for both outcomes.
“If he ends up doing it later, you could hypothetically-but that's not even part of our thought process,” McVay told reporters. “Our thought process has been let's look at a 53 with him and a 53 not including him, and what does that look like?”
That uncertainty is exactly why former NFL edge Dwight Freeney believes the league should be paying attention. Freeney drew a hard line between being in shape and being ready for football.
“If Aaron is Aaron… oh, it's gonna be a problem… It gotta be Aaron Donald as we remember, not just a guy with Aaron Donald's name.”
Stafford, who played with Donald and won a Super Bowl alongside him, echoed that respect. He called Donald an absolute monster in the weight room and made it clear the Rams will handle the decision with appreciation either way.
“Whatever's right for Aaron is right for us," he said. "And if that's, 'Hey, I don't think I can do it,' Hey man, I appreciate it. Thanks for everything you always did, and then, giving it a rip and trying to see if you could do it again.”
With the regular-season opener against the San Francisco 49ers approaching, roster decisions are getting closer. Donald is 35, and whether he stays retired or suits up again, he remains one of the greatest defensive players of all time.
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Aaron Donald's Rams Return Hinges On One Huge Reality
Aaron Donalds possible return to the Rams is turning into more than just a football question. The former defensive tackle has already taken two workouts with the team and is expected to have more before making a decision on coming out of retirement, which has kept the conversation alive around a player whose standard in Los Angeles was set at an elite level for years.
The biggest wrinkle is the business side, where the Rams and Donald are working through how to handle the $30 million owed from his previous contract and whether there is a new financial arrangement that makes sense for both sides. Even with the workouts underway, the larger issue remains whether Donald would be comfortable returning only if he can still play at the kind of high level that defined his career. [Read more 🡒]
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Rams May Make A Tough Call On One Draft Pick Soon
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With final cutdowns approaching, Keenan is one of the names to watch because the Rams could decide his best path is off the 53-man roster and back on the practice squad if he gets through waivers. For a late-round pick, that kind of move is never ideal, but it is also part of the business when a team has to balance long-term upside against immediate depth. [Read more 🡒]