Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has been tight-lipped about the prospect of Aaron Donald walking back into the building, but has claimed that the former All-Pro defensive tackle “looked outstanding” while training with the team.
The speculation about a potential comeback is at an all-time high, especially after he was seen training with defensive line coach Giff Smith, senior vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott, and senior director of strength and conditioning Justin Lovett.
However, not every fan is fully convinced that returning to the highest level would be a wise decision after his brief hiatus.
Footage of Aaron Donald’s Comeback Bid Leaves Fans Divided
It’s no secret that Donald has stayed in excellent shape in de facto retirement. He’s regularly seen posting workout videos on social media, but that doesn’t automatically translate to the kind of athleticism required in the NFL.
However, if his recent training footage is anything to go by, it’s well within the realm of possibility that Donald could sign with the team and participate in training camp in the coming weeks.
🔥 @AaronDonald97 is completely dialed in
(Via IG/210ths) pic.twitter.com/n1cAnogdpF
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 10, 2026
That being said, not everyone is on board with the idea. As footage of Donald getting some work in made its way to social media, fans had a thing or two to say about his workout.
‘One account wrote on X, “Yeah, never mind Joe Thuney is clamping this easily.” There’s some history here, of course. Thuney has long been regarded as one of the few interior offensive linemen to have fared well against Donald.
Another fan wrote, “He looks 10X slower than before.”
However, considering that Donald has been out of action for a few years now, it’s not surprising that it could take him a few weeks to get up to speed. Even if he’s not ready for action by Week 1, he could make meaningful contributions for the Rams when the going gets tough.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
That sentiment was echoed by a few fans on social media as well. One fan wrote, “If Aaron Donald plays one snap next season, he is still a better defensive tackle than half the guys getting paid right now. Two years off does not erase what makes him the best three-technique of this generation.”
He wasn’t the only one. Another fan went on to say, “This is bad news for the rest of the league”. Not everyone shared the opinion, though, with one X user writing, “Why are his arms so weird? He has no form lol.”
The prospect of Donald making a return to the gridiron emerged when the Rams traded for star edge rusher Myles Garrett, further strengthening a defensive front that is one of the most formidable in the league.
Pairing arguably the greatest pass rusher in NFL history with a three-time Defensive Player of the Year could send shivers down the spine of their opponents, which is why Donald has refused to rule out the possibility of making a return.
Back in June, he said that the Garrett trade “for sure got me thinking” and that at 35, he wants to see if “that fire can light back up.”
If his performance in 2023 is anything to go by, it won’t be any surprise that Donald still has that ‘spark’. Back then, he closed his career with another first-team All-Pro season in which he amassed eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss. That year, Donald suited up in 16 games, landing at #4 in PFN’s DT Impact Rankings.
