On June 1, the Los Angeles Rams pulled off a move few thought was possible by prying Myles Garrett out of the Cleveland Browns’ hands. The trade sparked a new string of rumors pointing to a potential comeback attempt from Aaron Donald.
As noted, that high-profile acquisition was nearly two months ago now. Rams veterans report for training camp on July 25. So, what’s taking Donald so long to join the team?
NFL Insider Says Aaron Donald Is Still Training for Rams Return
At first, the idea of Donald returning to the NFL seemed a bit out there. After all, here’s a player who hasn’t played a snap of live action since the conclusion of the 2023 season.
Then again, Donald is still only 35 years old; everyone knew he retired early, when he likely still had a few more seasons left in the tank. Heck, he even earned a First-Team All-Pro nod, the eighth of his career, in his final NFL season. In other words, he went out on top, in peak form.
Now, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter’s appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Donald has been in the lab, getting in “football shape” all this time.
“What’s going on right now is that he’s trying to get back into football shape,” Schefter said. “My understanding is, it’s going to be a while before we hear the final decision about him coming back. Like when he comes back, he’s gonna want to be Aaron Donald. He’s not gonna come back unless he feels like he’s Aaron Donald. That’s why, it sounds like, it’s not gonna be a quick verdict from him.”
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Schefter added that this process could take Donald a while. Only the eight-time First-Team All-Pro knows how he feels right now, and he’s essentially using this time to go through what Schefter called Donald’s “own pre-training camp routine.”
“He’s gonna be ramping up all during training camp,” Schefter added. “This may go toward the start of the regular season before we hear that he has or hasn’t signed with the team. He’s going through it all right now. This is his own pre-training camp routine.”
“My understanding is that Aaron Donald is getting in football shape right now..
It’s gonna be a while before we hear a final decision on when he’s coming back.. He’s in his own pre training camp routine”@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/sOoNtUmTgz — Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 21, 2026
Even since his retirement, Donald has remained in good shape. But good shape and football shape are two entirely different things. It’s one thing to be pushing yourself on a treadmill or in the weight room; it’s an entirely different act to be competing against one another, because that’s when a human’s physical and mental capabilities are truly put to the test.
Yet, if anyone can pull it off, it’s likely Donald. If a 44-year-old Philip Rivers can come off his couch after a four-season layoff and start firing footballs for the Indianapolis Colts as they attempted to secure a playoff spot, then chances are Donald can still give the Rams some productive snaps too.
Plus, it’s not like he’s likely to face immediate double and triple teams again. That type of special attention will likely go to the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year instead. Ultimately, this could be a golden opportunity for Donald to join a team many view as Super Bowl favorites, with talent on both sides of the ball.
