Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s potential return to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams has dominated the headlines during the NFL offseason. The former defensive tackle retired in 2024 but was recently spotted at the Rams’ training facility in pads, further fuelling speculation about his return to action.
T. J. Houshmandzadeh Criticizes Aaron Donald’s Viral Workout Clip
During Monday’s segment of the “Speakeasy” podcast, former NFL Pro Bowler T. J. Houshmandzadeh criticized the Rams’ viral video of Donald’s workout, citing privacy concerns.
“That’s dangerous, though. I don’t like seeing that. That’s cheating,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Because if you can do that now, then in a big game, you can start seeing kind of what we do in practice. I don’t like that at all. They gotta do something about it. They better put some trees right there in that little area. Come on now, they’ve gotta figure that out. That’s how cheating happens, ’cause them drones now, they better figure that out.”
The Rams’ blockbuster trade for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett, is reportedly the domino that has led Donald to consider a comeback to active duty. A pairing of Garrett and Donald would instantly make the Rams one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
However, Houshmandzadeh is right, and the Rams must do something to ensure that no one in the future can ever get a view like the one of their training facility in the video again.
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ESPN Analyst Reveals Rams’ Plan for Donald
During Monday’s segment of the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN analyst Adam Schefter predicted that Donald would return to the Rams, further revealing their plan to use the legendary defensive tackle next season.
“I don’t know where he would be more appreciated, celebrated, wanted, respected, than in that locker room, with the Rams, with Myles Garrett, with a plan where they could play him 12-15 plays a game, use him in spots that they need him most,” Schefter said.
“It’s an unbelievably attractive arrangement for him. It’s just a question of whether he wants to go through and do it. My guess is, in the end, that he will. Because obviously, he’s thinking hard about it. There are a lot of people that want him back there… I would think it’s got to be awfully enticing for him to come back to play this year, when the Super Bowl will be in LA.”
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Before his retirement, Donald established himself as one of the greatest defensive tackles in league history. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned eight first-team All-Pro nods, and 10 Pro Bowl selections. He also holds the record for the most NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards alongside J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor.
