McVay: Too early to say if Donald will return

Last week, Florio reported that Donald had hoped to make a decision early this week. The 35-year-old retired Ram has apparently kicked the can and now hopes to make a call at the end of the week. If it drags on longer than that, the Rams might not take issue with it. Simply getting Donald back in the building, even in a rotational capacity, is the ultimate goal.

For reference, the Rams’ defense averaged 66.9 plays per game last year, so this is a significant snap share estimation. Florio opened the segment by saying, “we could have an announcement within the next few days” about Donald’s potential return. Rams coach Sean McVay joked earlier today that Donald’s recent workout at the team facility was “the best tryout that the Rams have ever seen.” Nothing is guaranteed, but Donald is seemingly headed toward a return.

This comes from the league’s official transaction wire, unlike Donald’s previous visit with the Rams. According to PFT, he worked out in a helmet to see how he felt. The visit wasn’t meant for the Rams to evaluate Donald. We’re going to assume Donald has stayed roughly in football shape if he’s considering a return to LA. While it’s not a done deal just yet, all signs point to him playing with the Rams this year.

We assume this means Donald’s football workouts are going well. McVay adds that he does not expect to hear from Donald until the Rams return to the team facility in Woodland Hills after training camp. They are currently practicing at Loyola Marymount University. According to the team site, the last public training camp practice is scheduled for August 6th. It sounds like we might get an update on Donald in a week or two.

Palmer was quick to point out in his report that Donald has always been a player who has been in great shape, but that “there are differences in football shape and staying in shape.” Donald was spotted working out at the Rams’ facilities last week. Palmer said he believes Donald is currently in the process of checking boxes to evaluate where he stands physically and whether or not he can return to the field and play at a high level after two years away from the game. The Rams aren’t actively pursuing Donald or discussing money with him, per Palmer, but it’s clear the door is opened for him to return if he chooses to do so. Veterans will report to Rams camp on July 25th, which could serve as a soft deadline for when we might expect to get word on a decision from Donald.

Rumors have continued to circulate about a potential return for the 10-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. We had yet to see any substance beyond the rumors; that is, until now. There appears to still be hurdles to clear in a potential return after Donald’s retirement following the 2023 season, but this is the first time we’ve seen more than relayed quotes from league talking heads. A one-year deal could make sense as the Rams continue their push for a Super-Bowl-or-bust 2026 season, although the avenue for a multi-year deal remains open considering veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford recently signed a one-year extension that keeps him in Los Angeles through 2027.

“Nobody said that,” Schefter then said, noting that everyone involved is downplaying this. Donald almost undoubtedly wouldn’t go through a training camp, and the Rams have yet to present him with a plan on how he’d be used. Schefter stresses that this is just a “guess” but that the “ingredients are there to make it happen.” Donald Watch will become a big part of the training camp news cycle unless someone involved throws cold water on it.

Schultz apparently texted Donald, 35, about whether he would consider coming out of retirement to play alongside new Rams EDGE Myles Garrett. Per Schultz, Donald responded by saying he is “for sure flirting with the idea,” and if he can “find the fire, it’s a possibility.” Donald also noted that this season’s Super Bowl will be hosted at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium, which appeals to him. Donald is still on the Rams’ reserve/retired list, so his 2024 salary can be reinstated if he decides he would like to return. According to Over The Cap, the Rams have $16.3 million in salary cap space this season. A potential return should not be expected. Retired players entertain returns from time to time, but most of the time, they decide to stay put. To be fair to Donald, though, it does seem like he is at least mildly weighing his options.

Donald has flirted with the possibility of retiring before, but the 32-year-old, future hall of famer, has officially called it quits. You won’t find many players with a resumé as decorated as Donald’s. The former No. 13 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been named eight times as a First-team All-Pro, and was voted as a Pro Bowler in each of the 10 seasons he played. Donald steps away from the game tied for 40th in career sacks (111.0), and never totaled fewer than five sacks in a season. Blessed with a clean bill of health for the majority of his career, Donald played in all but nine regular season games during his tenure, and was an integral part of the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl run. Truly one of the best to ever do it, Donald’s retirement creates a massive void along the Rams’ defensive line. He restructured his contract shortly before retiring, helping to free up $9.2 million in cap space for the 2024 season.

Aaron Donald is also getting the week off. The Rams are locked into either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed for the playoffs, so there is almost nothing for them to play for this week. Ronnie Rivers, Royce Freeman, and Zach Evans will all have a shot at seeing more work in Week 18. Rivers was the only backup to see snaps last week, making him the next man up.