“I feel good,” Donald said during his press conference. “I feel a lot better than what I was.” Clearly, this is not good news for Allen, as No. 99 looks to regain the form that once made him the best player at his position.

Through the first four weeks, the Bills’ quarterback has been sacked nine times, resulting in a loss of 50 yards. Heading into a crucial matchup against the Rams, those negative numbers could climb even higher.

Donald wants to return to his former glory

Aaron Donald’s return from retirement with the Rams has been a bit of a gradual grind so far in this 2026 NFL season. After sitting out Week 1 while ramping up, he made his season debut in Week 2 and has racked up 4 total tackles (1 solo, 3 assisted) and 1 tackle for loss through two games before missing Week 4 due to back soreness.

While he hasn’t registered a sack yet and is still fighting through minor physical bumps, the 10-time Pro Bowler is working to shake off the rust, get back into game shape, and regain that dominant, game-disrupting form that defined his legendary career.

Stopping Allen will be the key

Stopping Josh Allen is hands-down the ultimate key for the Rams if they want to secure a huge victory on Monday Night Football. Allen has been putting up absolute video-game numbers so far this 2026 season—racking up 1,039 passing yards with 6 passing touchdowns through 4 games, while staying lethal on the ground with 118 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns.

He’s the engine that powers Buffalo’s entire offense, meaning L.A.’s defense will need to generate relentless pressure, keep him contained inside the pocket, and force him into bad decisions; if the Rams can neutralize his dual-threat magic and limit his explosive plays, they’ll be in prime position to steal a massive win.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald declared he feels good ahead of the Rams’ matchup against Buffalo.
• Josh Allen has been sacked nine times through the first four weeks.
• Aaron Donald has recorded 4 total tackles through two games played in 2026.

Donald’s absence becomes even more significant because the Rams are already dealing with another major loss along the defensive front. Myles Garrett is also out, meaning Los Angeles will have to find a way to slow down the Eagles without two of the biggest names expected to anchor its defensive line.

The situation puts additional pressure on the rest of the front seven. Against an Eagles offense capable of controlling games with both the passing and running attacks, the Rams will need other players to step up if they want to leave Philadelphia with a crucial road victory.

When will Aaron Donald play for Rams?

The current expectation is that Aaron Donald might return in Week 5 when the Rams face the Buffalo Bills. The schedule could give the veteran defensive lineman an additional day of rest because that highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for Monday Night Football.

The Rams-Bills game has already generated plenty of attention because of the potential implications surrounding two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. A matchup featuring Donald and Buffalo’s offense could be one of the most anticipated games of the early season, assuming the Rams’ star defender is healthy enough to return.

However, Los Angeles cannot afford to look too far ahead. The Rams could be running out of room for mistakes, and a loss against Philadelphia would make their upcoming schedule even more challenging. With several difficult games ahead, every early-season defeat could become increasingly costly in the playoff race.

That makes Sunday’s game particularly important despite Donald’s absence. The Rams will have to rely on their remaining defensive talent to compensate for the missing stars and prevent the Eagles from controlling the game at the line of scrimmage.

If Donald can return against Buffalo, the extra recovery time could be valuable. But first, Los Angeles has to survive a difficult road test in Philadelphia without two of its most important defensive players and avoid allowing its playoff position to become complicated this early in the season.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald will miss the Week 4 game against Philadelphia due to a back issue.
• Defensive front teammate Myles Garrett is also ruled out for the road matchup.
• Donald might return in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills.

NFL insider Ari Meirov shared the latest intel on Donald, delivering bad news for Rams fans. “Rams DT Aaron Donald has a back injury and is out on Sunday vs. the Eagles,” Meirov wrote, leaving the Rams in an unfavorable position. Additionally, the Rams will be without Terrance Ferguson and Jaylen Watson.

Donald has scratched his competitive itch in many ways this season, including as a leader in the locker room. Donald became angry after his team’s loss to the Broncos in Week 3 and after hearing coach Sean McVay’s subsequent message to the team. Donald has been a factor on the Rams‘ D-line so far, but he has not been the overwhelming force he was in past seasons.

What happened to Donald?

Donald was a surprise addition to the injury report on Wednesday with what the team is describing as a sore back. He did not practice all week, and the team officially ruled him out. Sean McVay offered an explanation for the decision.

“Just has some soreness there, just working through it,” said McVay. “I think our job as coaches is to put our players in positions to have successful outcomes. He’s as tough as it gets, [but] just not feeling good enough.”

Other injuries the Rams must deal with

It is not a real surprise, but the Rams will also be without Ferguson at tight end and Watson at cornerback. Ferguson has been dealing with a medial ankle sprain this week, and Watson dislocated his shoulder against the Broncos and will be out for at least this NFL game. McVay had previously ruled both players out this week. Without Ferguson, rookie Max Klare could see some more action.

Also at tight end, it appears that Colby Parkinson will be questionable for Sunday. Parkinson has been dealing with an AC sprain and has not practiced all week, officially being listed as questionable. Another surprise addition to the injury report on Friday was edge rusher Josaiah Stewart. Stewart was listed with a groin injury and is officially questionable as well.

“The game really wasn’t as fast as I thought,” Donald said after the game, via the team’s website. “It was more of me calming myself down, overrunning stuff or just my feet not being in the ground how they supposed to be, not trusting my eyes, little stuff like that.

“But playing the game, when I held out in ’17, ’18 it was the same way when I came back, it took a couple games to get going. It’s a little different. I ain’t played in two years, so I gotta watch the film, see what I did good, see what I did wrong, and just clean it up.”

Donald did not travel to Melbourne for Week 1, precisely so he could be in the best possible physical condition. His return did not disappoint: the Rams defeated the Giants on Monday Night Football, and they are hopeful of having a great season.

Donald’s highly anticipated return

Coming out of a two-year retirement, Aaron Donald made his debut in the Rams‘ 28-6 blowout against the Giants and picked up right where he left off. Playing on a disciplined snap count, he logged 32 total snaps (14 against the run, 18 on pass rushes) and dropped a solid stat line with 3 total tackles, including a tackle for loss on Najee Harris that forced a huge third-down stop.

He also generated a pressure on the quarterback, keeping his ridiculous career streak intact of never finishing a game with zero pressures. Also his average get-off time on pass rush snaps was an insane 0.75 seconds—the third-fastest mark by any defensive tackle in the league so far this season.

McVay knows Donald makes everyone better

Donald’s return has several positive aspects for the Rams, not only because he is one of the greatest players in NFL history at his position, but also because of the emotional boost he provides to his teammates. Sean McVay has the privilege of coaching him once again, and he knows Donald is an important boost for this team.

“I was asked about that at the very beginning, and he just elevates people he’s around, situations he’s a part of,” McVay said. “… And I just think it’s one of those deals that you get an opportunity to say, ‘just watch what the hell I do, follow my freaking lead,’ and that’s what this guy does. I love him.”

What’s next for the Rams?

The Rams have a busy couple of weeks ahead: first, they head into the altitude to face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, September 27 at Empower Field at Mile High; then, on Sunday, October 4, they stay on the road for a tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field; and finally, they head back home on Monday, October 12 to host the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald made his return after a two-year retirement in a victory against the Giants.
• Playing 32 total snaps, he recorded three tackles, including one for a loss on third down.
• Head coach Sean McVay praised how his defensive star elevates everyone around him.

The last time Aaron Donald stepped on an NFL field was over two-and-a-half years ago. Donald’s final regular-season appearance before retirement came against these same Giants on Dec. 31, 2023. On New Year’s Eve in New York, Donald recorded five tackles and two sacks as the Rams escaped with a 26-25 victory.

His final game overall came two weeks later on Jan. 14, 2024, when the Rams lost 24-23 to the Detroit Lions in the NFC Wild Card round. His previous appearance before the home crowd at SoFi Stadium came Dec. 21, 2023, in a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Monday falls on the 21st as well — exactly two years and nine months, or 1,005 days, later.

Donald and his return with the Rams

Donald is now active for the matchup, where his participation is expected. Donald slowly deliberated over a return, with the Rams providing sporadic updates as he went through the motions of figuring out whether he was ready to play in the NFL again. The answer finally came on Aug. 30, with Donald signing a one-year, $20 million deal to play for the Rams again.

That return came too late for Donald to play in the Rams’ NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, a 27-7 blowout loss. That also represented Donald’s first chance to play alongside Myles Garrett, who was invisible in Week 1 before undergoing knee surgery.

Even with an extended layoff, expectations will be high for Donald, just as they have been for the entire Rams team that entered this season as a Super Bowl favorite. At 35 years old, Donald might occupy a different role than the one he had in his prime, but one thing is certain: it will be worth watching.

Where do the Rams need Donald?

Donald is 35 and has not played a meaningful snap in nearly 1,000 days. The team would be foolish to expect 60 snaps of vintage Donald immediately, and Donald has already acknowledged he will tap out when necessary rather than pretend retirement somehow turned back the hands of time. However, the Rams do not need the old Aaron Donald for 60 snaps. They need Aaron Donald on crucial snaps.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald returns after signing a one-year, $20 million deal on August 30.
• 1,005 days have elapsed since the veteran’s final playoff appearance on January 14, 2024.
• Five tackles and two sacks were recorded during the prior matchup against New York.

“For the first time in three seasons, Rams DT Aaron Donald officially is active tonight vs. the Giants,” NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on his X account.

“I’ve been holding up good, feeling good,” Donald said to the press on Sept. 18. “Back-to-back days this week, so I’m feeling like myself. It’s been a great week.” The Rams’ prodigy also has Sean McVay’s backing: “If he said it, he’s going. Whatever Aaron says, I support.”

SoFi Stadium is gearing up for a historic night, as the fans in Inglewood will once again witness one of the greatest players in NFL history at his position. That said, the occasion cannot distract the Rams from the task at hand: securing a win against the Giants, as they will not want to start the season 0-2.

Donald’s last time on the field

Aaron Donald officially played his last NFL game before hanging up his cleats on January 14, 2024, in the Wild Card playoff loss against the Detroit Lions. Though he briefly stepped away from football after that game, he left at that time one of the most dominant resumes in league history: a Super Bowl LVI champion, a 3-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 8-time First-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, and the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

On top of capping off 111.0 career sacks and 24 forced fumbles as an interior defensive lineman, he was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, cementing his status as an absolute first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rams-Giants latest showdown

The last official matchup between the Rams and the Giants went down on New Year’s Eve in 2023, and it was an absolute nail-biter. The Rams barely squeaked by with a 26-25 victory at MetLife Stadium, mostly thanks to Kyren Williams shredding New York’s defense for three touchdowns and Matthew Stafford throwing for over 300 yards.

The Giants actually had a chance to steal it late after a wild 80-yard punt return touchdown by Gunner Olszewski, but they missed the two-point conversion and a last-second field goal attempt, letting LA lock up a playoff spot in dramatic fashion.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald officially returns to action against the New York Giants on Monday night.
• The 10-time Pro Bowler spent three seasons away from the NFL prior to returning.
• Los Angeles won the previous matchup between both teams by a score of 26-25.

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.