The Los Angeles Rams face a critical week as they finalize their 53-man roster for the upcoming NFL season. The deadline is fast approaching on August 30. An additional challenge looms with the uncertainty surrounding the potential return of former Ram Aaron Donald.
Since announcing a trade for Myles Garrett, a star pass rusher, the Rams have sparked interest with the prospect of partnering Garrett with Aaron Donald. The football community, as well as the Rams organization, is eager to see if Donald will come out of retirement for another season.
According to Benjamin Royer of the Orange County Register, the Rams are actively preparing for two outcomes: Donald rejoining the team or deciding not to return.
As of Tuesday, there are still no updates for when Donald will come to a decision on returning to the NFL more than two years after retiring,Royer reported.McVay said the team has plans for a final 53-man roster with and without Donald, and that he hasn’t thought about what a possibility of Donald returning after the Rams’ Sept. 10 season opener in Melbourne against the San Francisco 49ers would look like.
If Donald chooses to play, his participation in the game in Australia will depend on his readiness.
“If he decides he wants to be able to do it, then the next conversations are: What is your ramp-up?” McVay stated. “What does it look like to approach whenever that would be the first time that we think we make the most sense for him to impact and make a positive change with us?”
Head Coach Sean McVay emphasized the importance of focusing on present challenges rather than future speculations.
“We’ve had to have a lot of fluidity and flexibility, and that’s what I’ve had to learn over 10 years,” McVay said. “But I think what’s good is the thing that has served us well – and it’s really the truth – is let’s just stay one day at a time.”