Rams might not have to wait long for Aaron Donald's return: Predicting when former NFL star will unretire
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- Aaron Donald told Jordan Schultz on June 2 he was "flirting with the idea" of a comeback, specifically citing the Super Bowl being held at SoFi Stadium this year as motivation
- TMZ caught Donald working out at the Rams' practice field on July 10, the first concrete evidence that his comeback talk was serious, per the article
- Sean McVay said on July 31 that a Donald return was "trending upwards" and confirmed no decision would come while the team was still practicing at Loyola Marymount (final LMU practice: Aug. 7)
- The NFL transaction wire listed Donald's Aug. 5 visit to the Rams' facility as an official "tryout," prompting McVay to call it "the best tryout that we've ever had"
- Roster cuts are due by Aug. 30 and the Rams open the season in Australia against the 49ers, creating a soft deadline for Donald to return in time to get into football shape
- Ran Carthon, the former Titans GM who drafted Donald as the Rams' director of player personnel, predicted on the "With the First Pick" podcast that Donald might wait until mid-September or early October, evaluating the team's first three games (49ers, Giants, Broncos) before committing
- Donald remains under contract with the Rams; his return would reactivate a deal worth approximately $30 million in 2026 that likely requires restructuring to fit under the salary cap
Why it matters: If Donald returns, the Rams would absorb roughly $30 million in salary-cap obligations that likely require restructuring, making this not just a roster decision but a financial one for a team that already made a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett. The timing also matters because the 35-year-old has been away from football for two years and needs preseason reps to get into game shape before the international opener against the 49ers.
