New Aaron Donald decision timeline sparks questions about potential return to Rams

It was previously suggested that defensive superstar Aaron Donald could confirm that he is ending his retirement and returning to the Los Angeles Rams as soon as Monday. 

However, it now appears that won't be the case. 

When could Aaron Donald announce his decision about a potential return?

"Donald’s target, we’re told, has shifted from early this week to the end of this week," NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports revealed on Sunday. "Given the ramifications of a decision to return, Donald could take a little more time before making the decision to take the pigskin plunge." 

Donald worked out at the Rams' facility and was officially listed on the NFL's "tryout" list last week. Later, Rams head coach Sean McVay said that things were "going in the right direction" as it pertains to having Donald on the active roster for the team's regular-season opener versus the rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10 (U.S. time).

"The Rams have plenty of time to get Donald ready to go," Florio continued. "They’d deploy the same plan utilized in 2017 and 2018 to ramp him up after protracted contract holdouts. The Rams would want Donald to have a few weeks of football activities before playing, with the goal of 30-40 snaps in the Week 1 game against the 49ers in Australia."

Is Aaron Donald having second thoughts about potential NFL return?

A report from last week shared that McVay and Donald have "come up with a plan for what it’s going to look like if and when [Donald] does come back" to play this season. It's also been said that Donald, 35, may not return to the Rams if he feels he can no longer be what he was when he earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award honors on three occasions. Donald hasn't played since he retired in March 2024.

"Donald currently seems to be planning to make the decision on whether to play before officially rejoining the Rams and participating in practice," Florio added. "And he’ll be taking a bit more time to make that call. It remains hard to envision Donald putting in so much work only to not play. Until he decides to do it, however, there’s a chance he’ll decide not to do it."

In short, it sounds like McVay and star pass-rusher Myles Garrett may still have some work to do to convince Donald to return to the Rams. Los Angeles will open its preseason with a matchup at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 15.