The Los Angeles Rams brought in Aaron Donald for a tryout on Wednesday.
It’s fair to say he passed with flying colors.
What’s not certain as of this weekend is whether the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year will unretire and play for the Rams for the first time since the 2023 season.
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Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Donald is expected to take a little more time to ponder his decision. He’s expected to make his final choice by the end of this week.
“And his play-or-don’t-play decision is indeed coming soon,” Florio wrote. “But apparently not quite as soon as recently expected.
“Donald’s target, we’re told, has shifted from early this week to the end of this week. (Given the ramifications of a decision to return, Donald could take a little more time before making the decision to take the pigskin plunge.)”
The timeline Florio suggested would put Donald’s decision date close to the Rams’ first preseason game. Los Angeles will travel to play the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. Maybe Donald could steal some headlines before the game by choosing to announce his return.
The Rams and Donald still have some housekeeping to do if the defensive tackle returns. Los Angeles would owe Donald $30 million if he were to return, and it’s not clear if the Rams intend to pay him that salary in 2026. Those negotiations could take time to process.
Rams head coach Sean McVay believes Donald is in good enough shape to help the defense this year.
“Things are going in the right direction,” McVay said, via ESPN. “He’s feeling good, but we’re not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn’t ready to do it. But he’s doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect.”
Donald, 35, played and started in 16 games for the Rams in 2023. He made 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He’d be a big pickup for an already talented front seven that includes Myles Garrett.
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