Aaron Donald Set to Return to Rams Lineup Monday Night, Reports Fox Sports

More than two and a half years after his most recent NFL appearance, Aaron Donald is preparing to take the field again. The star defensive tackle last played on January 14, 2024, when the Rams fell to the Lions at Ford Field in the divisional round of the playoffs. According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Donald has confirmed his comeback, telling the broadcaster simply: “It’s go time.”

Glazer reported that Donald is expected to start Monday night’s contest, though he will be deployed as part of a rotation rather than carrying a full workload. The news marks a striking turn after Donald’s retirement from the game.

Donald will return to action shorthanded in one notable respect. Myles Garrett — whose arrival in Los Angeles reportedly helped spark Donald’s decision to unretire — will sit out Monday’s game and at least three additional contests after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

The timing could prove significant for a Rams defense in need of reinforcement. Los Angeles faces a 1-0 Giants team that opened its season with a controlled 28-20 victory over the Cowboys last Sunday night, an offensive performance the release describes as methodical and productive.

The stakes extend beyond one game. With the NFC West rivals looming, an 0-2 start would be a difficult position for the Rams this early. Both the 49ers — who meet the Dolphins on Sunday — and the Seahawks, visiting Arizona, have chances to move to 2-0 in their own Week 2 matchups.

Glazer’s report aired on Fox Sports, the sports division of Fox Corporation (FOXA). The company’s shares were recently trading at $64.45, down 0.82% from the prior close of $64.98, with a market capitalization of roughly $26.85 billion. Fox operates in the Communication Services sector as an entertainment-industry company, producing and licensing news and sports content through its Cable Network Programming and Television segments.

Whether Donald’s return can immediately shift the Rams’ defensive trajectory remains to be seen, but Monday night now carries added storyline weight for one of the most decorated defensive players of his era.

What to watch

• Donald’s snap count and effectiveness in the rotation during Monday night’s game against the Giants.
• Los Angeles’ record after Week 2, with divisional rivals San Francisco and Seattle also in action Sunday.
• Myles Garrett’s recovery timeline following arthroscopic knee surgery, with at least four games missed.
• Upcoming Rams disclosures on roster and injury updates as the season progresses.

Source: original release