Aaron Donald Holds Formal Rams Tryout, McVay Calls It “The Best We’ve Ever Had”
Aaron Donald hasn’t lined up for an NFL snap since January 14, 2024. This week, he put on a helmet again — on the Rams’ own practice field.
Donald worked out for Los Angeles on Wednesday in a session that, per NFL.com, was officially logged as a “tryout” on the league’s daily transaction report. No pads. Just a helmet, borrowed equipment, and a defensive tackle trying to find out if his body can still do what it used to do at an elite level.
Because Donald used team facilities and gear, the session had to be reported to the league — NFL.com noted that ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed those details. It wasn’t a quiet backyard drill. It was formal enough to require paperwork.
McVay didn’t downplay it. “Did it come across as a tryout?” he said, according to NFL.com’s report of his comments on “NFL Daily.” “Best tryout we’ve ever had.”
What McVay Is Actually Saying
McVay’s language has stayed consistent for weeks now: encouraged, but not ready to commit to anything. Yahoo Sports, citing ESPN NFL Nation’s Sarah Barshop, reported McVay said Donald is “feeling good, but we’re not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn’t ready to do it.” McVay added that Donald “looked outstanding” in Tuesday’s session.
That tracks with what he told reporters the week before. Per ESPN, McVay said he didn’t expect any update on Donald’s decision until the team returned to its Woodland Hills facility on August 8, though he called the situation “going in the right direction.” ESPN also reported McVay’s now-widely-quoted line: “if there’s an arrow, it’s trending upwards.”
ESPN’s Barshop posted the quote directly on X: “Sean McVay said he doesn’t expect there to be an update on Aaron Donald’s return until the Rams get to Woodland Hills. McVay did say that if there’s an arrow, ‘it’s trending upward.'” —
Sean McVay said he doesn’t expect there to be an update on Aaron Donald’s return until the Rams get to Woodland Hills. McVay did say that if there’s an arrow, “it’s trending upward.”
— Sarah Barshop (@sarahbarshop) August 1, 2026
Why This Story Exists: The Garrett Trade
None of this comeback chatter happens without the move the Rams made in June. Los Angeles traded for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and that reshaped what a Donald return would even look like — not a one-man rescue mission, but a second dominant piece next to an already stacked front.
Donald has said as much himself. According to Andscape, Donald told ESPN’s Pat McAfee back in June that the Garrett trade “got me thinking” about playing again.
Garrett has stayed careful not to pressure his side of it, but he hasn’t hidden his interest either. Per ESPN, Garrett said if Donald does come out of retirement, the pair “can do great things.”
The Numbers Behind the Hype
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Last NFL game played | January 14, 2024 |
| Career accolades | 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 10x Pro Bowl |
| 2018 season (career peak) | 20.5 sacks from the interior |
| Retirement announced | March 2024, after 10 seasons with the Rams |
| Recent workout | Formal “tryout,” logged with the NFL, August 5, 2026 |
What Happens Next
Nobody expects a decision this week. McVay has been explicit that any real update waits until the team is back in its normal training environment. That timeline points to August 8 as the earliest the Rams might have real clarity.
Even then, McVay has kept the specifics close. Per ESPN, he said he’s holding back certain details “out of respect for him and the situation,” in case Donald ultimately decides against a return.
That’s the honest state of things right now: a 35-year-old future Hall of Famer testing his body against NFL speed again, a head coach choosing his words carefully, and a fan base watching every workout report for a signal. Nothing is confirmed. But nothing about this week suggested Donald is walking away from the idea, either.
