Aaron Donald’s second debut with the Los Angeles Rams was a total success, kicking off with a big 28-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday night. SoFi Stadium absolutely erupted for his return, and honestly, can you blame those fans? The guy missed two whole seasons, came out of retirement for a one-year deal, and immediately showed why he’s still a generational game-wrecker.
The Big Play That Screamed “He’s Back!”
Donald didn’t waste any time proving he’s still got it. He wrapped up the game with three tackles and one absolutely massive tackle for loss. He played about two-thirds of the defensive snaps in the first half, dialing it back a bit as the Rams built their comfortable lead. But it was that play on the Giants’ biggest first-half drive that really stood out. New York had third-and-2 from the Los Angeles 3-yard line, looking like they were about to punch it in for a touchdown. Nope. Donald blasted into the backfield, tackled Giants running back Najee Harris for a 3-yard loss, and totally blew up their scoring chance. The Giants had to settle for a field goal after that crucial stop, all thanks to Donald being, well, Aaron Donald. That’s exactly the kind of backfield-disrupting play the Rams were dreaming of when they re-signed him, and he delivered instantly.
The $20 Million Comeback Story We All Needed
Think about it, this guy was gone, retired from the game! Donald officially retired in 2024 after a decade with the Rams, who drafted him No. 13 overall way back in 2014 when they were still in St. Louis. He racked up 111 career sacks and had 53 total tackles in his final 2023 season, not to mention being a colossal piece of their Super Bowl run back in 2021. Then, late last month, he and the Rams announced a one-year, $20 million deal to bring him out of retirement. He’d apparently been locked into training for months and was ramping up to play again. Head coach Sean McVay even hinted he’d be ready “sooner rather than later” before the season opener. Donald skipped that Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, staying in California to prepare. That extra week? Clearly, it was all he needed to dominate.
What This Return Means for the Rams Right Now
This win was huge for the Rams, who needed to bounce back after a rough 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Week 1. Adding to the pressure, they’re without fellow pass rusher Myles Garrett for at least the next four weeks after he landed on injured reserve for knee surgery. Garrett, who the Rams traded for this past offseason in a blockbuster deal, didn’t even get a single tackle against the 49ers in his debut. So, Donald’s return is even more critical right now. He stepped up big time against the Giants, especially after New York’s QB Jaxson Dart went down with an injury. The Rams put the Giants away in the fourth quarter, showing they can win even with key guys sidelined. Moving forward, the pressure is squarely on Donald to keep making those impact plays. With Garrett out, his veteran presence and disruptive force are absolutely vital to this defense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply