Aaron Donald says he plans to play against the New York Giants on Monday night, putting the Los Angeles Rams closer to getting him back on the field as they prepare for a stretch without Myles Garrett.
Asked after Friday’s practice whether he would play, Donald gave a brief answer in comments published by the Rams.
“That’s the plan,” Donald said. “So two practices today, have another practice tomorrow, and then we’ll see. But feeling good.”
The potential return comes with Los Angeles trying to recover from a 27-7 opening loss to San Francisco. Donald would give the defense another option up front, but his planned appearance would arrive with Garrett unavailable rather than give the Rams the opportunity to deploy both players together.
Garrett went on injured reserve Thursday following knee surgery. His absence makes the next several games a test of how the Rams can generate pressure with the personnel available to them.
Aaron Donald’s return moves closer after a gradual buildup
Donald sat out the trip to Australia for the opener while continuing his preparation. The Rams’ Friday report said he has been taking part in 11-on-11 work, including before Week 1, as he adjusts again to the pace of football.
His account of that work was encouraging. He described greater comfort with his assignments and movement, although his comments still left another practice ahead before Monday’s game.
This is the next step in a process AFD followed during Donald’s August workouts with the Rams. The team subsequently announced his return Aug. 30.
The distinction matters for assessing Monday. Rejoining a roster, completing practice work and handling a game are separate stages.
The first competitive snaps would offer evidence about how Donald fits now that offseason workouts cannot provide. For the coaching staff, the useful questions will extend beyond whether he dresses.
How frequently can he rotate in, which situations suit him and how does the defense perform with him on the field? Friday’s announcement creates the possibility of getting those answers without settling them in advance.
Myles Garrett’s absence changes the Rams’ immediate needs
Garrett will miss at least the games against the Giants, Broncos, Eagles and Bills. Sean McVay has not supplied a firm return date beyond that minimum, and the coach emphasized patience in the team’s Thursday update.
“He’s feeling good,” McVay said. “… He had crutches yesterday, and then he was walking without crutches today, so he’s like Wolverine, healing fast. I’m reluctant to put a timeline on it. We’ve kind of talked about it, but we know that he’s going to miss those four weeks at a minimum, and we’re not going to rush him back. We want to make sure that he’s feeling good, (that) he’s able to get out on the practice field and do all the things that are necessary for him to perform at a level that he’s been accustomed to. And so that’ll be something that I’ll kind of keep you guys posted as we have updates as we go.”
That leaves Los Angeles planning for a sustained absence. Donald’s potential availability would expand its choices, particularly in how it attacks the middle of a protection, but adding an interior threat does not automatically replace an outside linebacker’s responsibilities.
The tactical opportunity is to make blocking assignments harder. If Donald can win inside, an offense may need to commit additional help there, potentially changing the matchups elsewhere. If he needs a smaller role initially, the Rams would have to select those opportunities carefully rather than assume his presence can carry every series.
Those are possible benefits, not a forecast of his production. Garrett’s absence remains a loss even if Donald plays well, and the rest of the front will still have to finish the chances that reach it.
Evaluating that collective response will require looking at successful defensive possessions, not simply counting how often the returning player appears in a highlight.
The Giants offer an immediate test beyond the pass rush
New York arrives after beating Dallas 28-20 in John Harbaugh’s first game as Giants head coach. Jaxson Dart completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while Cam Skattebo rushed 18 times for 81 yards and a score.
Isaiah Likely contributed eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers point to more than one problem for Los Angeles: New York had success both handing the ball off and finding a productive receiving option at tight end.
The Rams’ analysis also highlighted the length of the Giants’ possessions. Three touchdown drives lasted at least 6:13, with the final two exceeding eight minutes.
For Donald and the defense, that makes early-down work particularly important. A rush can have less influence if an offense repeatedly reaches manageable distances and keeps its full playbook available.
Forcing longer passing situations would give Los Angeles a better chance to make pressure matter. From New York’s perspective, the question is how much extra attention to give Donald before there is current game film of him.
Sliding protection his way could help contain him but affect the help available to other blockers. Leaving him isolated would test whether the returning defender can still punish that decision.
Los Angeles needs more than one defensive boost
The Rams’ official Week 1 recap shows why a single personnel change cannot account for everything that went wrong. San Francisco controlled possession for 33:50 to Los Angeles’ 26:10, while a failed Rams fourth-and-goal attempt was followed by a 99-yard touchdown drive.
That sequence combined an offensive missed opportunity with a defensive failure to recover. Donald could help the second part of that equation, but the offense also has to turn possessions into points and avoid putting the defense straight back to work.
Matthew Stafford addressed the offense’s need for more sustained opportunities. McVay and Davante Adams also focused on preparing for New York and improving execution after the opener.
That is the broader setting for Donald’s potential debut. A defensive stop can change field position or give Stafford another possession, but its value grows when the offense capitalizes.
A productive return and a team rebound are related possibilities, not the same achievement.
Past production sets the stakes, not Monday’s workload
Donald brings a record few returning players could match. He has 111 career regular-season sacks, three Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight first-team All-Pro selections.
His last regular season, in 2023, included eight sacks in 16 games. There is also a relevant previous meeting.
Donald had two sacks in the Rams’ 26-25 victory over the Giants on Dec. 31, 2023. Those results explain the interest in his comeback.
They do not establish what his first game after two missed seasons will look like. The more useful evaluation will be whether he consistently affects the plays he is assigned, with sacks only one part of that assessment.
Monday’s game is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. PT at SoFi Stadium and will air on ESPN and ABC. For now, Donald has identified that game as his intended return, with the actual workload still to be seen.
