Will Aaron Donald return to Rams? ‘If there’s an arrow, it’s pointing up,’ McVay says

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams won’t receive a decision on a potential Aaron Donald return until the team finishes training camp and its work at its facility in Woodland Hills, coach Sean McVay said Friday.

They do appear to have some momentum, though.

“If there’s an arrow, it’s pointing up,” McVay said.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has been working out in hopes of deciding whether to play for the Rams, two years after the future first-ballot Hall of Famer retired. Donald is 35 years old, so the process has different steps. He has yet to make a firm decision, but the Rams continue to speak optimistically about a potential return.

Donald has been tempted to return ever since the Rams made the blockbuster trade for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23 last season with the Cleveland Browns, and he and Donald could give Los Angeles a rare tandem of two multi-time Defensive Player of the Year winners in the same position group.

Garrett is the second All-Pro defender to join the Rams this offseason via trade, as the team also dealt a first-round NFL Draft pick and more to the Kansas City Chiefs for cornerback Trent McDuffie. The Rams also signed former Chiefs outside cornerback Jaylen Watson, setting up their defense as potentially one of the best in the NFL even before possibly adding Donald.

If Donald does want to return, he and the Rams will have a few logistics to figure out, including his contract, the timing of a return and his role.

“Heck of a player. Hall of Fame player. One of the best to ever do it at his position,” said tight end Tyler Higbee, who played with Donald from 2016 to 2023. “We’ll see. I hope he does.”