Aaron Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams didn’t land quietly. The Super Bowl LVI champion shocked the NFL on Sunday by ending his retirement and signing a one-year, $20 million deal to go back to the team he left behind.
Not everyone in Seattle was impressed.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori took a shot at Donald after the news broke, poking fun at the Rams’ busy offseason and suggesting the team was loading up with Seattle in mind after last season’s title run. His post was short and sharp: "All that for us," Emmanwori wrote.
Emmanwori, drafted by the Seahawks with the No. 35 pick last year, made an immediate impact in his rookie season. He finished with 81 tackles and 2.5 sacks, then helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX. The Seahawks saw plenty of the Rams along the way, meeting them three times last season.
The first matchup went to Sean McVay’s team in November. Seattle answered in December with a 38-37 overtime win at home. The two clubs met again in the NFC Championship Game, where the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl and beat the Patriots to claim the Lombardi Trophy.
Donald’s comeback is only part of the Rams’ aggressive offseason. They also landed seven-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett in a trade with the Browns, added cornerback Trent McDuffie, and signed Jaylen Watson to a three-year, $51 million deal.
Donald said he was excited to be back with the team on Sunday, when he took part in his first practice after two seasons away. Afterward, he described how strange it felt to be back in the middle of actual football again.
"I don't know, it felt weird coming in and knowing that I was going to play actual football," Donald said. "I mean, obviously I'm always around.
But, to be like, okay, I'm on the team, it felt a little weird for me. But it felt good to be in my first team meeting today.
"It was a long one too, around 20 minutes. It felt good to be back around the guys, to see the guys in the locker room.
I'm on the field, got to do some individual today. So, starting to feel a little more acclimated as a football player.
You know, it ain't as weird to me now cause I got a little day under my belt."
McVay said the Rams intend to ease Donald back in, taking it "one day at a time." He also wouldn’t say whether Donald will be on the field for the season opener in Australia against the 49ers on Sept. 10.
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