Aaron Donald could make his Los Angeles Rams return in Week 2 after missing the season opener, although the team has not confirmed that he will play against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
Donald announced his decision to return from retirement and play for the Rams in 2026, but he needed additional time to resume football activities. That preparation kept him out of Week 1 and also prevented him from traveling to Australia.
Rams coach Sean McVay said the decision on Donald's availability had not been made. "We haven't decided that yet. He's going to continue to work his process, and you know, we'll see what that looks like," McVay said.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport later projected that Donald was aiming to return for the game. Rapoport said there was a strong possibility Donald would play, while also noting that the defensive end still needed to determine whether his body was ready and that his appearance was not guaranteed.
The anticipation around Donald's return has increased after fellow defensive end Myles Garrett was placed on injured reserve while preparing for knee surgery. Garrett is expected to miss at least four games, and McVay said the overall length of his absence will depend on his recovery.
