Overview
- As of August 15, Aaron Donald has not announced a return and continues to train at Rams facilities while the team waits for his official decision.
- Rams general manager Les Snead has said the club will not rush Donald and the team has prepared a staged return that would limit him to roughly 30–40 snaps per game if he signs.
- Donald still has about $30 million remaining on a post‑Super Bowl deal that both sides would need to renegotiate or restructure before he can rejoin the roster.
- Donald can legally delay reinstatement until the Tuesday after Week 13 on the reserve/retired list, but that timeline reduces the chance he will get enough live reps to be ready for the Week 1 opener in Melbourne.
- If he returns, pairing Donald with newly acquired Myles Garrett could significantly alter the Rams’ pass rush and playing time for younger linemen, and the team remains a preseason Super Bowl favorite even without a confirmed Donald comeback.