Rams' Sean McVay shares major Aaron Donald update amid comeback rumors

A Thursday report revealed that defensive superstar Aaron Donald could confirm that he is returning to the Los Angeles Rams' active roster at some point "in the coming days." 

Rams head coach Sean McVay previously joked that Donald produced "the best tryout we've ever had" when the 35-year-old worked out at the team's facility on Wednesday. On Thursday, McVay shared a more serious update regarding Donald's future. 

"Things are going in the right direction" for Aaron Donald to return to Rams?

"He's very deliberate and intentional about what this looks like," McVay said of Donald, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "... Things are going in the right direction. He's feeling good, but we're not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn't ready to do it. But he's doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect."

According to NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports, Donald will play for the Rams in their regular-season opener versus the rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10 (U.S. time) if the future Hall of Famer ends his retirement, which began in March 2024. On Thursday, McVay shared that Donald won't complete another workout with the Rams before making a final decision and instead has "some other plans that he'll be able to do off-site on his own." 

Aaron Donald, Sean McVay "probably talk every day" amid potential comeback

A previous report claimed that McVay and Donald have already "come up with a plan for what it’s going to look like if and when [Donald] does come back" to play for the Rams this season. On Thursday, McVay confirmed that he's been in constant contact with Donald throughout this process. 

"He has earned the right to be able to say how he feels," McVay added about Donald. "I mean, I obviously saw the workout. I've been seeing the things that he's been doing. He and I probably talk every day. So, it's one of those deals that if he wants to do it, we'd be excited about the possibility. And I think it's really important to acknowledge that if he doesn't, this guy gave this organization everything he had for 10 years. And so if he is going to do it, he's going to do it the right way. And if not, he's got a lot of cool stuff going on as a husband, as a father, and doing what he's doing business-wise."

While McVay seemingly isn't putting any pressure on Donald, it also sounds like the coach would be legitimately surprised if he doesn't have the three-time Defensive Player of the Year on his roster when the Labor Day holiday weekend arrives.