ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter dropped by The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday and offered up the latest on Aaron Donald’s potential return to the Rams. And yeah, it sounds like the future Hall of Famer isn’t just sitting around.
“My understanding is that Aaron Donald is getting in football shape right now,” Schefter said. “It’s gonna be a while before we hear a final decision on when he’s coming back. He’s in his own pre training camp routine.”
That’s about as much as anyone’s heard since buzz started building that Donald might be considering ending his two-year retirement. The Rams have already had a monster offseason — they added Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, among others — so the thought of plugging Donald back into that defensive line is the kind of thing that keeps offensive coordinators up at night.
Donald walked away after the 2022 season, fresh off a Super Bowl win in 2021-22 and with nothing left to prove. He’s widely considered one of the best defensive players in NFL history. But at 35 years old and with two full seasons off, there’s obvious questions about what he’d look like on the field now.
What the Rams Would Be Getting
The Rams were already one of the league’s elite teams last season. They made it to the NFC Championship Game before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. That loss stung, and the front office clearly went to work. Garrett and McDuffie are huge additions. But Donald? He’s the kind of guy who changes an entire defense’s identity.
Even if he’s lost a step — and there’s no real evidence he has — Donald’s presence as a pass-rushing force alongside Garrett would be a nightmare for any offensive line. The Rams have not confirmed anything, and Donald himself hasn’t made any public statement. But Schefter’s report suggests the wheels are turning.
It’s unclear how much Donald would have left in the tank after two years away. But the Rams would absolutely welcome him back if he wants to return. The locker room, the coaching staff, the fans — they’d all be thrilled.
For now, don’t expect a quick answer. Donald is taking his time, working through his own routine. The Rams aren’t pushing for a decision either. They know what he means to the franchise. And they’re probably just hoping he decides sooner rather than later, so they can start figuring out how to fit him into an already scary defensive unit.
This is a story that’s going to simmer for a while. But Schefter’s intel is the strongest sign yet that Donald’s retirement might not be permanent.
Leave a Comment