Aaron Donald’s decision to return to the NFL has raised expectations around the Los Angeles Rams, especially after their busy offseason.
The former Defensive Player of the Year retired in March 2024 but is now back in Los Angeles on a one-year, $20 million contract that can reach $30 million with incentives. His return came after the Rams added several major pieces, including reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
Former Pro Bowl wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh believes those additions have put serious pressure on the Rams to win immediately.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh Has High Expectations for Aaron Donald’s Rams
Houshmandzadeh did not hold back when discussing the team’s championship chances.
With Donald, Garrett, and McDuffie now part of the defense, he believes anything short of a title would be a major disappointment.
“If they don’t win the championship, it is a complete and total failure…. And they’re gonna smack the Eagles… Smack the [expletive] out the Eagles,” Houshmandzadeh said.
The Rams will get their chance to test that defense against Philadelphia in Week 4 on Oct. 4, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles bring a physical offensive line and one of the league’s most dangerous rushing quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia’s ability to win inside and keep drives alive could make Donald’s return particularly important.
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Aaron Donald Confident He Can Still Dominate
Despite spending more than two years away from the NFL, Donald believes he can return at the same level he showed before retirement.
The veteran defensive tackle said he would not have come back unless he felt capable of playing at a high level and being himself again.
“Do I feel like I can play at a high level? Yes. Do I feel like I can still be myself? 100%. If I didn’t feel like that, I wouldn’t be here. From everything I did from training and conditioning to the football transition and doing football drills and things of that nature. I recorded everything I studied myself to a T,” Donald said.
He went even further, saying he has not noticed any decline in his game. “In my opinion, I don’t see any difference. If not, it looked a little cleaner to me.”
That confidence will be put to the test when the Rams face some of the NFC’s top offenses.
For now, Houshmandzadeh has already circled the Eagles game as one to watch. With Donald returning, Los Angeles has built a defense capable of creating problems for quarterbacks, and Week 4 could provide an early look at just how dangerous the unit can be.
