Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will practice in full on Thursday and the team is "hopeful" he will play Monday night against the New York Giants, coach Sean McVay said. Donald initially retired in March 2024 and came out of retirement Aug. 30, and he did not travel to the Rams' Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
Rams' Aaron Donald to practice in full Thursday, McVay hopeful he plays Monday
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will practice in full on Thursday and the team is "hopeful" he will play Monday night against the New York Giants, coach Sean McVay said. Donald initially retired in March 2024 and came out of retirement Aug. 30, and he did not travel to the Rams' Week 1 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia.
McVay said the determination of whether Donald plays will not rest on specific benchmarks. "It's more along the line of how does he feel?" McVay said. He said Donald is "obviously chomping at the bit" to play, but that the defensive tackle has had few opportunities to take part in team drills because of the Rams' Week 1 travel schedule.
McVay said of the plan for the coming days: "But what we are hopeful is, is that we'll have some good work today and tomorrow and then hopefully he's feeling good enough and if he says he's ready to go, then we'll be excited to see him."
McVay also said defensive end Myles Garrett is "feeling good" after knee surgery on Monday, but the coach said he still does not want to put a timeline on Garrett's return. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, missed most of training camp while dealing with what McVay called swelling in his knee.
On Monday, McVay said the thought was Garrett could play through the injury, but it was obvious in Week 1 that was not the case. "You already see he had crutches yesterday and then he was walking without crutches today," McVay said. "So he's like Wolverine healing fast." Garrett will miss at least the next four games on injured reserve.
- The source does not state whether the Rams have made a final determination on Donald's availability for the Monday night game or whether he will appear on an injury report.
- The source does not state the specific nature or severity of Garrett's knee injury, which knee was operated on, or a projected return date beyond missing at least four games on injured reserve.
- The source does not state the score of the Rams' Week 1 loss to the 49ers.
- The source does not state the calendar date of the Monday night game against the Giants.
- The source does not state whether Donald or Garrett commented publicly on their own status.