Overview
- Rams coach Sean McVay said the situation is “up in the air” after the team’s preseason finale on Thursday and the organization has not received a firm commitment from Aaron Donald.
- Los Angeles has prepared two 53-man roster plans — one that includes Donald and one that does not — to protect the team as the final cut deadline approaches.
- Donald has completed multiple workouts with the Rams while team doctors and coaches evaluate his conditioning and medical readiness for a return to game play.
- Insiders report contract and cap questions remain, noting Donald left about $30–31 million on his prior deal and the Rams have roughly $15 million in effective cap space, so any return would require a reworked financial plan.
- Most league analysts now view Week 1 in Australia as unlikely for Donald and say a midseason return before the Tuesday after Week 13 reinstatement deadline is the realistic window, with the team likely using PUP or NFI and a short ramp period if he comes back.