Aaron Donald is set to play his first NFL game since January 2024 on Monday night, after Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed Saturday that the 35-year-old will face the New York Giants.
McVay left the call with Donald, who told reporters Friday that playing against the Giants was his plan.
“If he said it, he’s going,” McVay said Saturday.
Donald’s status becomes official when inactives are released about 90 minutes before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
Los Angeles opened the season with a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. Donald did not play. Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, and San Francisco held the ball for 33:50.
Myles Garrett will not be beside him Monday. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, acquired in an offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns, had knee surgery and is on injured reserve with a designation to return.
Donald’s path back started in June.
He said at the time that the Garrett trade had him thinking about a comeback, according to CBS Sports. He worked out for the Rams on Aug. 5 and again 11 days later. The team announced his return Aug. 30, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the terms: one year and $20 million, with incentives that can push the deal to $30 million.
Donald spent all 10 of his previous seasons with the franchise in St. Louis and Los Angeles. He made the Pro Bowl in every one of them, earned first-team All-Pro honors eight times and won Defensive Player of the Year three times.
His career totals stand at 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss and 260 quarterback hits.
In 2023, his last season before stepping away, Donald recorded eight sacks and was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection. He announced his retirement in March 2024 at 32, two months after a wild-card loss to the Detroit Lions. Playing again resets the clock on his Hall of Fame eligibility.
Neither McVay nor Donald has said publicly how large a workload he will carry after two full seasons away from the game.
The Rams have other availability questions Monday. Wide receiver Puka Nacua is questionable with a hip injury, and receiver Jordan Whittington is doubtful with a quadriceps injury.
Should Donald clear warmups without issue, Monday marks the start of his 11th NFL season. Once Garrett is activated, the Rams will line up two players who have won five of the last nine Defensive Player of the Year awards between them.
