The Rams chose not to play Donald in their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, with the veteran continuing to work his way back after spending two seasons away from football. Los Angeles ultimately suffered a 27-7 loss in Australia, making Donald’s potential return even more important as the team prepares for its home opener.

Asked whether he expects to play against the Giants, Donald made it clear that Monday is the target. “That’s the plan. I’ll have another practice tomorrow and then we’ll see, but, I’m feeling good.”

When will Aaron Donald play with Rams?

Everything currently points toward Aaron Donald making his Rams return next Monday against the Giants. He has already participated in team drills during the week and said he is feeling much more comfortable as he continues to get back into the rhythm of NFL football.

Donald has acknowledged that he still needs to reacclimate himself to the speed and physicality of the game after his long absence, but the progress during practice has given the Rams reason to believe he can be ready for Monday Night Football. His final practice will be another important step before Los Angeles determines exactly how much he can contribute.

The timing could hardly be more important for the Rams. After being dominated by the 49ers in their season opener, Los Angeles needs a response against the Giants, and bringing back one of the most accomplished defensive players of his generation would give the defense a major boost. Donald’s return would also add another storyline to a matchup that already carries plenty of pressure for the Rams.

Will Myles Garrett play for Rams vs Giants on MNF?

Myles Garrett will not play against the Giants. The Rams placed the star pass rusher on injured reserve after he underwent knee surgery, meaning he will miss at least four games while recovering. That leaves Los Angeles without one of the biggest pieces of the defense it expected to build around this season.

Garrett’s absence makes Donald’s potential return even more significant. The Rams had envisioned Garrett and Donald eventually sharing the defensive front, but with Garrett sidelined, Los Angeles will need other players to generate pressure and create disruption against opposing quarterbacks.

Donald cannot simply replace everything Garrett brings to the defense, especially after two years away from the NFL, but his presence could immediately change the way opponents have to approach the Rams’ defensive line. If he is cleared to play Monday, all eyes will be on how much the future Hall of Famer can contribute in his first game back.

For a Rams team that opened the season with a disappointing loss and then lost Garrett to injury, having Donald back on the field against the Giants could provide a major boost at exactly the right time.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Aaron Donald himself “hopes” to play in Week 2’s Monday Night Football vs. Giants. Donald was close to play in Australia but ended up not traveling with the team. Now, it seems like he is ready to go.

The Rams need Donald bad right now. Myles Garrett was sent to the Injury Reserve list and is confirmed that he isn’t playing vs. Giants in Week 2. Hence, Donald’s presence would really strengthen the Rams defensive line.

The Rams defense was really underwhelming in Week 1

It might have been the jet-lag, or Kyle Shanahan’s schemes, but the Rams were trumped in Week 1. The New York Giants have a very young, talented offense, so the Rams must avoid another bad outing.

The Rams allowed 379 total yards and 174 rushing yards. They couldn’t stop the run at all. Donald is massive to help improve that aspect of the game. Meanwhile, the Giants were able to put 394 total yards with 165 rushing yards in Week 1. The Rams must stop Cam Skattebo.

NY Giants vs Rams is one of the most intriguing games of Week 2

The Giants have plenty of eyeballs on them after revamping the whole franchise by bringing John Harbaugh in as head coach and recovering Malik Nabers as the best wideout on the team.

As for the Rams, they were supposed to be juggernauts and got humbled by divisional rivals 49ers in Week 1. Hence, now they have to bounce back. It’s a battle of stacked roster vs. young core, and also a battle of momentums.

Donald has not played in a regular-season game since the end of the 2023 season before announcing his retirement. After spending more than two years away from the NFL, the future Hall of Fame defensive tackle returned to the Rams this offseason and has been working toward making his comeback.

That possibility has naturally caught the attention of Skattebo. The Giants running back knows exactly what Donald represents, but he also understands that the Rams star has not played an NFL game in a long time. Skattebo’s message ahead of Monday night’s matchup was filled with respect, but he made it clear he will not back down if the two players meet on the field.

Cam Skattebo’s message to Aaron Donald

Cam Skattebo was asked about the possibility of facing Aaron Donald and immediately acknowledged the challenge of going against a player who dominated the NFL for years. At the same time, the star RB pointed out that Donald will have to deal with the same reality as everyone else if Monday night becomes his first game back.

“He’s had a couple of years off. I’m sure he’s ready to go and he’s excited to play, but he’s still got to play football. He hasn’t practiced a ton. He hasn’t played in a game yet or played a ton. So, if it is his first game, he’s got to be ready for it, just like we do. I’m excited to play against him.”

Skattebo’s comments are not meant as disrespect toward Donald, but they’re definitely a challenge. In fact, Cam made it clear that he understands the magnitude of potentially sharing the field with one of the best defensive linemen to ever play the game.

“He’s one of the best to ever do it. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a good challenge. If I have to meet him in the hole on 3rd and 1, so be it. I gotta get one yard. He’s a good player. All respect to him.”

Cam Skattebo is ready for Aaron Donald

The final part of Skattebo’s answer captures his approach perfectly. Even if Donald is lined up across from him in one of the most physical situations possible, Cam is focused on accomplishing his assignment rather than worrying about the name on the other side.

That could make Monday night’s matchup particularly intriguing if Donald receives enough snaps to make an impact. Skattebo emerged as an important part of the Giants’ offense in Week 1, and his physical running style could eventually put him directly into situations where he has to challenge Donald at the line of scrimmage.

For Skattebo, however, the equation is simple. He has enormous respect for what Donald accomplished throughout his career, but if the Rams defensive tackle is finally back on the field and the Giants need one yard on third down, he is prepared to run directly at the challenge.

“We are expecting him to play. We are expecting him to be Aaron Donald. He’s a game-wrecker,” the head coach said per New York Post Sports‘ Ryan Dunleavy. Even amid uncertainty over whether Sean McVay will put him on the field at SoFi Stadium, Harbaugh is preparing for any scenario.

The Giants’ physicality prevailed against the Dallas Cowboys in their season opener, and it will be needed to counter the impact of players of Donald’s caliber. Both coaching staffs are preparing as exhaustively as possible to secure a win next Monday.

Donald looks to get back up to speed

Ahead of the start of the season, the Los Angeles Rams were clearly viewed as one of the major contenders to reach the next Super Bowl, even more so after it was announced that Aaron Donald would come out of retirement to join McVay’s team. However, their season opener did not go as expected.

The defensive end was not available to the coaching staff in Melbourne for the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, with the goal of getting to 100% not only physically but also getting some game reps under his belt before returning to competition. Week 2 against the Big Blue appears to be a good opportunity for Donald to make his return, especially in front of the home crowd.

Harbaugh’s big decision ahead of the Rams clash

There was a lot of talk about the short amount of time the Rams had to adjust to the time change in Australia, given that they arrived shortly before the game. The New York Giants will have to travel across almost the entire country to play the Los Angeles Rams on MNF, so, according to USA Today’s Art Stapleton on X, Harbaugh decided to head to the West Coast on Saturday to give his team enough time to adjust.

“We haven’t decided that yet,” the head coach Sean McVay said in his video conference, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “He’s going to continue to work his process and we’ll see what that looks like.”

After the loss in their debut against the San Francisco 49ers, it seems the Rams desperately need a boost with Donald on the field. However, they appear to be taking a cautious approach to his return, despite facing a Giants team whose physicality prevailed against the Dallas Cowboys in its season opener.

Donald’s final preparations

After Donald came out of retirement, it was more than clear that getting up to speed with his teammates would take some time. As a first measure, it was decided that he would not travel to Australia for Week 1, where the Rams ultimately lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

Obviously, McVay needs one of his biggest stars to be at 100% for his first game of the season, especially knowing that he will face a New York Giants team coming off a win in the first SNF of the season.

What’s Myles Garrett’s current situation?

Things did not go as expected for the Rams, who opened their season 0-1 and, even more concerning, had to deal with the injury suffered by Myles Garrett in Melbourne. McVay was unable to provide an exact timeline for when the defensive end could return to action, and instead made it a top priority to address what happened following the injury.

“Thought we would take an approach where he’d be feeling good enough to go contribute positive change and be the player that he’s capable of. That wasn’t the case. And so the next right thing for us is to be able to get this thing fixed,” the HC said via ESPN‘s Sarah Barshop.

A big Week 2 showdown

The Rams and Giants are set to face off in a Week 2 primetime matchup on Monday Night Football, September 21, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 PM ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Both teams will be looking to make an early-season statement under the bright lights, making it one of the most anticipated night games of the week.

The Giants may be walking themselves right into the lion’s den. Traveling to the City of Angels to face the Rams on Monday night of Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season, New York will face a star-studded, Super Bowl-favorite squad in Los Angeles. Not just that, but the G-Men may be the first team Donald faces in his return to the league.

“Rams standout DT Aaron Donald will not travel to Australia for Thursday night’s opener against the 49ers and will be inactive,” Adam Schefter reported on X. “The Rams want to give Donald more time to ramp up before making his much-anticipated return after two seasons of retirement.“

Rams could be saving Donald’s return for Giants

Missing the Rams’ season opener in the Land Down Under against the San Francisco 49ers, Donald’s first game in the NFL could come in Week 2. Playing at home and in prime time against the G-Men, there may be no better stage for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) to make his grand return.

There’s also a possibility Donald’s return could be further delayed if head coach Sean McVay believes he needs more time to settle in. Needless to say, the Giants will be hoping for the latter.

Otherwise, they would be taking on a player they have struggled to contain with pent-up physicality and aggression, and that is something that accomplishes the impossible: making Donald even more terrifying to face. Aaron Donald’s 2026 version may not be the same of the defensive tackle that was named 10 times to the NFL’s Pro Bowl, but he is still Aaron Donald.

NY Giants would be fitting for Donald’s first game back

The story would come full circle if Donald were to play his first game back with the Rams against the Giants. Although Donald’s last game in the NFL was against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card (Jan. 14, 2024), his last regular-season outing was during a visit to MetLife Stadium against the G-Men on Dec. 31, 2023.

Donald finished that game (the Rams won 26-25) with five total tackles, two sacks and half a sack. Across his entire NFL career, Donald has faced New York six times, he has registered four sacks, and is 4-2 against the Giants.

Donald’s games against New York have been split perfectly, with three at home and three on the road. However, one of those home games (in 2014) was played in St. Louis, as the Rams hadn’t touched down in LAX yet.

In this way, Sean McVay managed to put together one of the strongest defenses in the league, if not the strongest. Donald joins names such as Myles Garrett, Omar Speights, and Byron Young, without overlooking the secondary, which features Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.

No. 99 joins forces with Garrett, with the two being among the best players in NFL history at their position. Can they win another Super Bowl ring for the franchise this season?

Donald’s last official game

The legendary career of this player reached a pause some time ago. Aaron Donald’s final professional game came on January 14, 2024, in a tense 24–23 NFC Wild Card loss against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. The future Hall of Famer played all 51 defensive snaps and recorded three total tackles, constantly drawing double teams as Detroit’s offensive line prioritized containing him.

Rams put together a fearsome defense

It is often said in this sport that defense wins championships. That is why the Rams did not hesitate to spend big and have managed to put together one of the defenses that none of the other 31 teams will want to face:

• DE Myles Garrett
• DT Aaron Donald
• DT Kobie Turner
• DT Braden Fiske
• DT Poona Ford
• DE Byron Young

• LB Nate Landman
• LB Omar Speights

• CB Trent McDuffie
• CB Jaylen Watson
• S Quentin Lake
• S Kam Curl

The Rams’ debut in the 2026 NFL season

The beginning of a new dream for this franchise will take place far from home, as they will make their debut in none other than Melbourne, Australia. From there, the Rams will face a series of tough matchups as they look to start the season on the right foot.

• vs San Francisco 49ers, September 10 (Week 1)
• vs New York Giants, September 21 (Week 2)
• at Denver Broncos, September 27 (Week 3)
• at Philadelphia Eagles, October 4 (Week 4)
• vs Buffalo Bills, October 12 (Week 5)

McVay spoke to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times on Donald’s future. “I would love to be able to have all this stuff figured out but… I know he’s feeling good, and I think he will continue to work out, and I’m hopeful that we’ll have some answers on that sooner than later,” McVay said.

Hence, more workouts are yet to come, but it all trends in a positive direction as Donald is feeling good. If Donald is back with the team, the Rams might actually have the most stacked team in recent NFL memory.

The Rams defense would arguably be NFL’s best with Donald

While the Rams have a great defense, rarely is it put on the list of the best in the NFL. The Houston Texans and the Seattle Seahawks are the main ones. However, the Rams might not even need Donald to look both of those units in the eye. And, if Donald returns, it might be the definitive factor for the Rams defense to be the best in the league.

A potential lineup with Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett would absolutely compete with Houston’s defensive line. Meanwhile, the duo of Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie could easily be a top CB duo that competes with Seattle’s secondary. The Rams might be on the verge of historic levels of talent.

Donald could be lured by a lowkey factor

While they were both in the organization together, Aaron Donald has never played with Chris Shula as a defensive coordinator. Shula was upgraded to the DC role in 2024, just when Donald retired.

However, in 2022 and 2023, Shula served as the pass rush coordinator/ linebackers coach, directly working with Donald up-front during Donald’s final NFL season. Now that he has a whole defensive scheme, Donald could be tempted to see how far Shula has come.

“He’s put himself in a position to be able to say yes or no,” the Rams head coach told the Times. “I think he’s earned that right to have clarity on that. We’re not at that point quite yet.”

McVay also added that he doesn’t want to “put some sort of invisible deadline on something that doesn’t exist in my mind,” while emphasizing that he feels very good about his current roster. “I feel great about our football team as it currently stands, and I know he’ll add value if he decides to come.“

Donald, a Rams legend

Widely regarded as one of the most dominant defensive players in NFL history, Aaron Donald built a legendary 10-year career spent entirely with the Rams franchise. A three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (tied for the most in league history alongside Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt), Donald earned 10 Pro Bowl selections and eight First-Team All-Pro honors while commanding double teams every single week.

Beyond his career total of 111 sacks, he set the single-season record for sacks by an interior defensive lineman with 20.5 in 2018. He capped off his iconic legacy as a Super Bowl LVI champion, delivering the game-clinching pressure against the Cincinnati Bengals to cement his status as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Garrett is the new leader of the defense

Following Donald’s retirement, the arrival of two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett marked a seismic addition to Sean McVay’s team. As one of the most dominant pass rushers in football—coming off a record-setting 23-sack season—Garrett brings elite edge pressure and disruptive presence that instantly alters how opposing offenses scheme against L.A.

Working alongside defensive coordinator Chris Shula, McVay gains a game-changing anchor who demands double teams on nearly every snap, reshaping the math on the field and establishing a terrifying new standard for the Rams‘ defensive unit.

Donald’s last game in the NFL came during the 2023 NFL playoffs. The unstoppable defensive lineman hung up his cleats after the Detroit Lions eliminated the Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round on Jan. 14, 2024. Donald finished the game with three total tackles (one solo) and no sacks.

That was Detroit’s first postseason win in 32 years and Donald’s final NFL game. Two years later, however, Donald (35) could be back in the league, and the Rams could be seeking revenge in ways that once seemed impossible.

Rams couldn’t keep Donald’s practice under wraps

It’s unclear whether the Rams intended to announce it or not, but even if the team hoped to keep Donald’s workout a secret, a report explains why they couldn’t—and why they had to inform the NFL about their star guest taking part in practice.

“Aaron Donald wanted to do a workout in a football helmet, and even though he did not wear pads during it, he used Rams’ team equipment at their facility during training camp, requiring them to report his activity to the NFL,” Adam Schefter reported.

The news getting out may not be the worst thing in the world for the Rams, though. Los Angeles is undoubtedly sending a message with Donald’s workout, as it could form a dream duo—or a nightmare, depending on which side of the line of scrimmage one is standing on—that no offensive line may have an answer for.

Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald could join forces

It sounds ridiculous even writing it. Still, it’s shaping up to be a real possibility. Trading for Myles Garrett had already placed this Rams defense among the best in the NFL. If Donald indeed returns to Los Angeles, then the defense (coordinated by Chris Shula) could earn a place among the best in league history.

Only days ago, Garrett issued a warning to the rest of the NFL: “If [Donald] is here, I’m going to be excited to be his partner in crime, and I think we can do great things together.” Talk about manifesting. It appears Donald may indeed be on his way back to the organization he spent his entire NFL career with, chasing another Super Bowl after winning one, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, 10 Pro Bowls, and eight first-team All-Pro selections.

Still, Donald’s legacy and his career may be too great to settle for only one Super Bowl ring, and if he is returning to the NFL, it would be to chase more silverware.

Per Stu Jackson, Rams Senior Staff Writer, Sean McVay said that Aaron Donald is “going through his process, and he is putting himself in a position to make a decision” on whether he wants to play. If Donald decides to, the Rams will make it happen, per Jackson. Still, McVay is unclear on what will happen.

Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive player of all time, he belongs to the elite of the elite. Add that to the fact that the Rams traded for Myles Garrett in the offseason, and the pair would be an incredible problem for the opponents to deal with.

Aaron Donald is just one of many storylines going on for the Rams

It’s also been noted that Puca Nakua reported to training camp for the Rams, but he is still in need of a new contract as this is his final year in his rookie deal. Hence, the Rams are working to go all in on all fronts.

Aaron Donald has been having some workouts in the Rams facilities as he is still testing himself to see if he is able to come back. Donald is arguably the Rams’ best player ever, so everyone is hoping for one last, glorious dance.

Rams are a Super Bowl-or-bust team

With or without Aaron Donald, the fact is that the Rams are a Super Bowl contender. They have an elite coach in Sean McVay, the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford, arguably the best receiving room in the NFL, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett, and an elite organization top to bottom.