The Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in Australia in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. The Rams could very well have Aaron Donald more than prepared to play, but on the field for a significant number of snaps when they do.
Donald has been teasing your return for weeks. But no official word has come, as both sides continue to let the situation play out.
However, they are also planning for what Donald’s return to action would look like.
Rams Planning for Aaron Donald Snaps vs 49ers
GettySean McVay and the Rams could get Aaron Donald back in time for Week 1 against the 49ers.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio updated the situation between Donald and the Rams ahead of the Hall of Fame Game between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Florio again said Donald’s recent workout at the Rams’ facilities was more for his benefit than the team’s. But Florio also explained that in addition to anticipating a potential answer from Donald this coming week, the Rams already have a plan for him to play Week 1.
That is, as it has been, if Donald feels he is up to it.
“The question for Aaron Donald is, can he get back to being the Aaron Donald that he was? And if he decides to do it, we could have an announcement within the next few days,” Florio said on the special presentation of “Sunday Night Football” on August 6. “I’m told if he comes back, he could get between 30 to 40 snaps in that debut.”
Reports that Donald would want to play the entire season have been prevalent, but the idea that Donald could see such a high percentage of the average defensive snaps.
That is roughly 63 snaps per contest.
Rams Could Follow Familiar Pattern With AD
GettyAaron Donald could take a modified approach to returning.
Florio also corroborated reports about the Rams’ plan to preserve Donald until the regular season, following a pattern from his holdout seasons in 2017 and 2018. He won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in those seasons.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has become increasingly willing to suggest he expects Donald to return.
He said on NFL Network on August 5 that he has “never claimed to be a good poker player.”
Donald’s decision is the biggest talking point left for the Rams after a blockbuster offseason that yielded Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. It continues to sound like a matter of when, not if, the franchise icon will come out of retirement and rejoin the team.
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