Aaron Donald hasn’t put on a Rams uniform in two seasons. But on Friday, he was back on the field at the team’s practice facility, running drills that looked a lot like a man getting ready for something.
TMZ Sports first captured the video, and NBC Sports later reported that an eyewitness said Donald spent close to an hour going through ladder drills, medicine ball throws and agility work before he was, in the eyewitness’s words, clearly gassed. For a 35-year-old who hasn’t taken an NFL snap since retiring after the 2023 season, that’s not nothing.
The workout is the latest data point in a story that’s been building since the Los Angeles Rams traded for edge rusher Myles Garrett last month, sending Jared Verse and three draft picks to Cleveland in the process. Almost immediately, speculation started that Garrett’s arrival could be the thing that pulls Donald out of retirement.
What’s Actually Confirmed About an Aaron Donald Return
Here’s what’s real: Donald has not signed anything, and there’s been no announcement from the Rams. This remains speculation, not a done deal, no matter how loud the noise around it has gotten.
What is confirmed is that Donald left a reaction on an Instagram post about his potential return earlier this month, according to NBC Sports’ Mike Florio, who covered the moment on July 6. It was a small gesture, but combined with Friday’s workout, it’s kept the rumor mill running hot.
Sean McVay, Donald’s head coach during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI run, has publicly welcomed the idea. Speaking with ESPN’s Sarah Barshop last month, McVay said he stays in close touch with Donald and has talked to him directly about the chance to play alongside Garrett. “If Aaron decides he wants to dust them off at the age of 35, I bet you he could still do it at a pretty high clip,” McVay said.
I believe it’s 80/20 he comes back. Third down is going to be a headache against the Rams. https://t.co/nrTpaZ0f0Q
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) July 11, 2026
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, cited by NFL Trade Rumors, there’s a “growing sense” inside the Rams organization and around the league that Donald will rejoin the team for most of the 2026 season, even if he doesn’t report for the start of training camp. That’s a report, not a confirmation — La Canfora’s sourcing points to internal expectation, not a signed contract.
Why the Timing Makes Sense
The Rams didn’t just add any pass rusher when they landed Garrett. They added a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who broke the single-season sack record in 2025, playing on a defense that already leans heavily on dime packages and light boxes against the run. Garrett’s presence changes what opposing offensive coordinators have to plan for on early downs.
Donald next to him would change the math on third down specifically. That’s the point The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen was making when he weighed in on the workout footage. “I believe it’s 80/20 he comes back. Third down is going to be a headache against the Rams,” Nguyen posted on X.
Aarond Donald and Myles Garrett will break the NFL.
Why would any other team even bother suiting up? pic.twitter.com/iTUm2uDBmg
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) July 11, 2026
That’s analysis, not a source with knowledge of Donald’s plans — worth noting given how much weight it’s been given online. Still, the football logic tracks. Donald’s first-step quickness against interior offensive linemen was the engine of the Rams’ pass rush for a decade, and pairing him with an edge presence like Garrett would give opposing quarterbacks nowhere clean to step up into.
The Skepticism Is Real Too
Not everyone is convinced field work equals a comeback. Rams Up Podcast’s Ian, posting on X, pointed out that Donald has had access to the team facility to train on his own for the past two years, and that lifting weights or running drills solo is a different animal than game speed against NFL competition. It’s a fair caution against reading too much into one clip.
Look…#Rams Fans have known Aaron Donald has a "gym membership" to the Rams Facility, to workout whenever he wants for the past 2 Years.
But…
On the field workouts are different than lifting Weights…
🤔#RamsHouse https://t.co/ISvFK86Tgs— Ian (Rams Up Podcast) (@RamsUp_Ian) July 11, 2026
There’s also a more grounded version of this story circulating: Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has floated the idea that Donald could delay any decision and target a midseason return instead of training camp, similar to how Eric Weddle came out of retirement for the Rams during their 2021 playoff run, or how the Eagles added Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph in November 2022. Under that scenario, Friday’s workout is Donald staying ready, not necessarily a signal that a deal is close.
Myles Garrett joining the LA Rams gave Aaron Donald that spark again
it’s happening 👀 https://t.co/KpcVdUGlgs
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 11, 2026
What Happens Next
No timetable has been set publicly, and the Rams have said they’ll leave the door open for Donald as long as he needs it. Training camp is approaching fast, and how the team handles roster moves over the next few weeks should say more about where this actually stands than any single workout video.
Aaron Donald… say whaaaaaat🤯🤯 https://t.co/rzCHKSKmyy
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) July 11, 2026
Until Donald or the team makes something official, this stays exactly what it is: a future Hall of Famer getting back on the grass, and a fan base allowed to dream a little.
