New update about potential Aaron Donald return to Rams emerges after workout

Retired defensive superstar Aaron Donald recently worked out at the Los Angeles Rams' facility and reportedly is "thinking very hard about" making a return to the NFL to play alongside new Rams star pass-rusher Myles Garrett this coming season. 

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," NFL insider Peter Schrager of ESPN shared an update regarding the Donald-Rams situation. 

Aaron Donald would only come back for a full season? 

"Donald is not going to come back as some $ .30-on-the-dollar version of Aaron Donald," Schrager said, per Josh Buckhalter of Heavy. "He wants to be ready. That’s why that workout was going on. He wants to be fully where he was when he retired two years ago, and wants to be the best version of himself. They haven’t even discussed money yet. So that’s the secondary part of this. The first part is, does Aaron Donald want to come back? Is he prepared to come back? Is he ready to come back? The Rams would welcome him with open arms, obviously, if the numbers worked out. But this is not going to be one of those deals where it’s like Week 2, Week 3, Week 4. No, no, no. He wants to go the full season if he comes back, and he wants to be at his best version of himself. So that’s why these workouts are happening." 

A previous report suggested that Donald could rejoin the Rams' active roster at some point after the 2026 regular season gets underway. Schrager's update would lead one to believe such a return isn't on the table for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year who hasn't played since he retired following the 2023 campaign.

"He doesn’t want to be a lesser version of himself," Schrager added. "He’s too good of a competitor. He’s already won all the awards and has the Super Bowl ring. He doesn’t need to do this just to do it. He wants to be the most dominant defensive tackle in the league, and there’s a chance he can be if he’s in shape. And all those workout videos are different than playing shape, as you know."

Could money prevent Rams from having Aaron Donald on their roster this fall? 

In early June, somebody within the Rams allegedly responded to a question about Donald possibly making a comeback this summer by saying that the team had "spent all their money" for the 2026 campaign. Schrager hinted that Donald, 35, won't be looking to cash in on a massive one-year deal if he decides he wants to play for the Rams during the upcoming season. 

"I don’t think Aaron Donald is going to be the one to say, 'You know what, I need $40M for the year,'" Schrager continued. "It’s gonna be incentives-based, and it’ll also be, 'I’m not gonna ruin it for those young guys. They’re next in line. I get it. But I need something.'"

According to the NFL's website, veteran Rams players are due to report for training camp on July 25. It's unclear if Donald has a deadline in mind for when he will make a final decision about possibly playing in 2026.