{"id":35937,"date":"2026-08-10T06:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35937"},"modified":"2026-08-10T06:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T01:09:32","slug":"rams-new-timeline-emerges-on-aaron-donalds-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=35937","title":{"rendered":"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"0\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/sports-nfl-rams\">Los Angeles Rams<\/a> brought in Aaron Donald for a tryout on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"1\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">It&#8217;s fair to say he passed with flying colors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"2\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">What&#8217;s not certain as of this weekend is whether the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year will unretire and play for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/rams\">Rams<\/a> for the first time since the 2023 season.<\/p>\n<section class=\"RelatedStoriesV2-module-scss-module__Hqo30W__container\" data-gtm-action=\"Read_More\" data-variant=\"v2\" data-loading=\"true\" aria-busy=\"true\" aria-label=\"Loading related stories\">\n<p><h4 class=\"RelatedStoriesV2-module-scss-module__Hqo30W__headlineText\"><span class=\"RelatedStoriesV2-module-scss-module__Hqo30W__headlinePrefix\">Read More<!-- --> on <\/span><span>NFL<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"4\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\"><strong>More News: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/ncaa\/three-teams-that-can-win-the-acc-championship-12244725\">Three Teams That Can Win the ACC Championship<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageBlock-module-scss-module__rUGLEG__container\">\n<div class=\"ImageBlock-module-scss-module__rUGLEG__imageContainer\" style=\"padding-bottom:66.6729%\"><img id=\"12290113\" alt=\"Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald during NFC Wild Card Playoffs against Detroit Lions\" caption=\"DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 14: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 14, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images)\" captionoverride=\"Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 14, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images)\" src=\"Photo by Kevin Sabitus\/Getty Images\" sourcealt=\"\" sourceimage=\"Getty Images\" sources=\"[]\" blockindex=\"5\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"5326\" height=\"3551\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 640px) 680px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=640&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 640w, https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=750&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 750w, https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=1000&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 1000w, https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=1200&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 1200w, https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=1360&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 1360w, https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1 1600w\" bad-src=\"https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1938549399.jpg?w=1600&amp;quality=80&amp;webp=1\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"6\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\"><strong>More News:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\/ncaa\/three-teams-that-can-win-the-big-12-12245227\">Three Teams That Can Win the Big 12<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"7\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Donald is expected to take a little more time to ponder his decision. He&#8217;s expected to make his final choice by the end of this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"8\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">&#8220;And his play-or-don\u2019t-play decision is indeed coming soon,&#8221; Florio <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nfl\/profootballtalk\/rumor-mill\/news\/aaron-donald-decision-is-currently-expected-this-week\">wrote<\/a>. &#8220;But apparently not quite as soon as recently expected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"9\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">&#8220;Donald\u2019s target, we\u2019re 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.)&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"11\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">The timeline Florio suggested would put Donald&#8217;s decision date close to the Rams&#8217; 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"12\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">The Rams and Donald still have some housekeeping to do if the defensive tackle returns. Los Angeles would owe Donald <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/rams\/2026\/07\/22\/aaron-donald-rams-contract-nfl-return\/91012954007\/\">$30 million <\/a>if he were to return, and it&#8217;s not clear if the Rams intend to pay him that salary in 2026. Those negotiations could take time to process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"13\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">Rams head coach Sean McVay believes Donald is in good enough shape to help the defense this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"15\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">&#8220;Things are going in the right direction,&#8221; McVay said, via ESPN. &#8220;He&#8217;s feeling good, but we&#8217;re not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn&#8217;t ready to do it. But he&#8217;s doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"16\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\">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&#8217;d be a big pickup for an already talented front seven that includes Myles Garrett.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph-module-scss-module__0ovlkG__blockParagraph\" blockindex=\"17\" articletitle=\"Rams: New Timeline Emerges on Aaron Donald\u2019s Decision\" id=\"artend_links\">For more on the Rams and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/topic\/sports-nfl\">NFL<\/a>, head to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/sports\"><em>Newsweek Sports<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Los Angeles Rams brought in Aaron Donald for a tryout on Wednesday. It&#8217;s fair to say he passed with flying colors. What&#8217;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. Read&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/assets.newsweek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Aaron-Donald.jpg?w=1200&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}