Aaron Donald Returns to Rams After Two-Year Absence
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald played his first game since retiring after the 2023 season, recording three tackles and a tackle for loss for the Los Angeles Rams.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald made his first appearance since ending his retirement after the 2023 season on Monday night at SoFi Stadium. He entered the game after the team announced his return to the starting lineup, and he contributed three tackles, including a tackle for loss, while playing 33 of the Rams' 58 defensive snaps.
Donald said the crowd’s reaction helped him settle in, and he noted that the pace of the game felt slower than expected. He explained that he was still adjusting his footwork and vision after a two-year hiatus and would need to review film to refine his performance. The Rams had initially planned to pair Donald with Myles Garrett, but Garrett’s knee injury has postponed that arrangement.
"The game really wasn’t as fast as I thought. It was more about me calming myself down, overrunning stuff or just my feet not being in the ground how they’re supposed to be, not trusting my eyes, little stuff like that," Donald said via the team’s website.
The team hopes additional playing time will help Donald regain the form that earned him three Defensive Player of the Year honors.