Is Aaron Donald signing imminent? DT works out with Rams for second time, Sean McVay mum on timeline — SkimNews
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- Aaron Donald worked out with the Rams on Sunday for the second time this month, his closest activity to an official practice since retiring at the end of the 2023 season, following an Aug. 5 facility appearance that the team had to log on the NFL transaction wire.
- Sean McVay said he is "hopeful" a decision comes "sooner than later" but declined to impose a timeline, emphasizing Donald has "earned the right" to set his own benchmarks — including whether he can "stack back-to-back days" at age 35.
- Donald has been considering a comeback since early June, when the Rams traded for star edge rusher Myles Garrett, and each workout in Los Angeles adds a data point on whether his body can withstand playing as an elite defensive lineman.
- The Rams' defense already projects as a top unit in 2026 following the Garrett deal and the additions of cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and McVay has said the team would "explore that opportunity" if Donald decides to return.
- In his final 2023 season, Donald posted 8 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 23 quarterback hits — well below his prime numbers but still good enough to earn an eighth first-team All-Pro selection.
- McVay acknowledged he and Donald have "identified dates" they would like to hit, but said he wants to avoid "unnecessary pressure" on Donald if unforeseen circumstances arise.
- The Rams are the preseason Super Bowl favorite per the source, and even a diminished version of Donald on the defensive front would further solidify that status.
Why it matters: The Rams have already been constructed as the 2026 preseason Super Bowl favorite via the Myles Garrett trade and cornerback additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson; re-adding arguably the greatest defensive tackle of all time — even at a diminished 35-year-old level — would lock in that favorite status while forcing Donald to personally verify his body can still handle back-to-back practices before committing.
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