Aaron Donald works out at Rams camp, return nears
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Aaron Donald worked out with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday during training camp, the closest thing to official practice participation since his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.
- Donald requested to wear a football helmet and used team equipment, forcing the Rams to report his activity on the NFL's transaction wire, per ESPN.
- Myles Garrett's trade to the Rams reignited Donald's return thoughts — he said in June the deal "for sure got me thinking" and that at 35 he wants to see if "that fire can light back up."
- If the workout checks out, Donald could sign and rejoin training camp within weeks, with a mid-season debut viewed as the preferred path to avoid the strain of a full 17-game campaign after two years away.
- Pairing the three-time Defensive Player of the Year with Garrett would give the Rams arguably the most loaded defensive front in football, adding the consensus greatest pass rusher in NFL history to an already-formidable unit.
- Donald retired on his own terms after a 2023 first-team All-Pro season that included eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss, suggesting he left with significant production still in the tank.
Why it matters: The transaction wire filing confirms this is more than a casual visit — it's a logged, league-tracked step toward a contract. A Donald return would give the Rams two elite edge rushers atop an already-formidable defense, while the article's framing suggests a mid-season debut, not a Week 1 start, gives the 35-year-old the best chance to contribute without absorbing a full 17-game workload after two years off.
