Ian Rapoport shares crucial Aaron Donald update ahead of Week 2

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Ian Rapoport shares crucial Aaron Donald update ahead of Week 2

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Sep 16, 2026 9:53 AM ET

The Los Angeles Rams didn't have one of their most significant offseason additions on the field in Week 1.

Myles Garrett suited up, though he didn't make much of an impact, but Aaron Donald didn't even travel to Australia as he continued to ramp up after such a long layoff.

However, it won't be long before the future Hall of Famer is back on the field, especially with Sean McVay's team now sitting on a 0-1 record.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, there's a "very realistic" chance that he'll suit up in Week 2 against the New York Giants.

Aaron Donald might make his Rams debut in Week 2

“I want to talk about Aaron Donald, obviously one of the biggest storylines in the NFL, basically this entire offseason, the Rams signed him; he came out of retirement, (and he) has yet to play. Could he make his return on "Monday Night Football" at home against the Giants? I would say this: there is a very, very realistic chance,” the renowned insider said on "The Insiders".

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Aaron Donald could make his #Rams re-debut on MNF. pic.twitter.com/CcYiH3ubAB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2026

Of course, expecting Donald to be the same dominant force he was when he retired might be wishful thinking, at least this early on in the season.

He clearly still had plenty left in the tank when he decided to walk away from the game, but it might be a while before he gets back up to speed, if ever.

Even if that's not the case, half of Aaron Donald is still significantly better than the average NFL player.

The Rams will be without Garrett for the next six weeks or so, so having their franchise legend back in the fold will definitely work wonders to hold down the fort in the pass-rushing department.

This is scary news for the NFC West and everyone else on the Rams' schedule this season, but even their biggest detractors have to be excited to watch Aaron Donald play football again.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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