Aaron Donald is moving closer to his first game action since coming out of retirement, with Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay saying Thursday that the veteran defensive tackle is expected to practice in full as the team evaluates whether he can play Monday night against the New York Giants.
The Rams have not made a final Week 2 decision on Donald. The significance is the change in his workload: Donald was held out of the season opener after a deliberate ramp-up, and Los Angeles is now giving him full practice work while deciding if he is ready for game snaps.
Donald is taking the next step after missing Week 1
Donald returned to the Rams in late August after two seasons away from football, but Los Angeles never planned to rush him directly into the opener. FSN covered Donald being ruled out for Week 1 against San Francisco as the Rams prioritized his conditioning and football readiness over an immediate debut.
Thursday’s update is materially different. McVay said Donald would work in full, giving the coaching staff its best opportunity yet to evaluate how he handles a normal practice workload. The Rams still have several days before Monday night’s game, so the team can judge his recovery from each session before making an activation and game-status decision.
That distinction matters. A full practice is a strong step forward, but it is not the same as being cleared for a full game workload after such a long layoff.
Myles Garrett’s injured-reserve move raises the stakes
Donald is returning to a defensive front that will be without Myles Garrett for at least the next four games. Los Angeles officially moved Garrett to injured reserve Thursday after knee surgery.
FSN previously examined how Garrett’s knee problem exposed the risk in the Rams’ top-heavy championship roster. The Rams built this defense around elite disruption from Garrett, Donald and the rest of a talented front, so losing Garrett makes Donald’s eventual return more consequential.
Donald should not be treated as a one-for-one replacement for Garrett. They affect protections differently and play different roles. But if Donald can re-enter the rotation, Los Angeles would regain a player capable of changing how offenses block the interior while Garrett recovers.
The Giants are preparing as if Donald will play
New York is not waiting for the Rams to make the final call. Giants coach John Harbaugh said his team is preparing as though Donald will be available Monday night.
That is the practical approach for an offense facing uncertainty. Donald has not played in an NFL game since the 2023 postseason, but his résumé and ability to disrupt protections make him too important to ignore in the game plan.
The Giants are coming off a Week 1 win over Dallas, which FSN covered in its look at New York’s 28-20 victory to open the John Harbaugh era. Preparing for Donald adds another layer to a road matchup already shaped by the Rams’ veteran defensive talent.
What Los Angeles needs to learn before Monday
The Rams’ evaluation is about more than whether Donald can finish one full practice. The coaching staff needs to see how his body responds the next day, whether he can repeat football movements at game speed and how many snaps he could realistically handle if active.
Los Angeles also has to decide how to structure the defensive-line rotation around him. Donald may be able to help without immediately playing a normal starter’s workload, particularly after two years away and a compressed return-to-football timeline.
If he handles the practice week cleanly, Monday night becomes a realistic target for his 2026 debut. If the Rams see signs that another week would improve his readiness, there is little reason to force the issue in September.
What to watch next
The next meaningful update is Donald’s participation and recovery through the rest of the practice week. A full session Thursday is encouraging, but McVay has made clear the Rams want to see how the week unfolds before deciding whether Donald will play against New York.
The Rams already know Garrett will not be available. Donald’s status is now the biggest variable in how much of Los Angeles’ envisioned defensive front can take the field Monday night.