Key facts
- Aaron Donald, a three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, had a formal tryout with the Rams on Wednesday, per the NFL transaction wire
- Donald wore a helmet and pads during the session to personally assess how he felt physically
- A league source told NBC Sports the workout was for Donald’s own evaluation, not the Rams’ evaluation of him
- Rams head coach Sean McVay has said Donald’s decision would likely come after camp at Loyola Marymount University ends this week
- The Rams organization has stated Donald would be welcomed back if he decides to return
What happened
Aaron Donald, the three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, took part in a formal tryout with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday, according to the NFL’s daily transaction wire. The workout had Donald wearing a helmet and pads, marking a concrete step in his potential return to professional football.
A league source told NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk that the session was arranged so Donald could personally gauge how his body felt in full gear, rather than as an evaluation by the Rams coaching staff. In other words, the team already knows what Donald can do; this was about Donald checking in with himself.
Where the decision stands
Rams head coach Sean McVay has indicated that Donald’s decision on whether to return would likely come after the team wraps up training camp at Loyola Marymount University and heads back to its regular facility in Woodland Hills. That camp is set to conclude this week, meaning a decision could follow shortly after the team resumes practices at its home base.
The Rams organization has been consistent in its messaging that Donald would be welcomed back without hesitation if he chooses to return. Both outlets frame this workout as a sign that Donald’s return is drawing closer, though no final decision has been announced.
What is next
With training camp at Loyola Marymount finishing up this week, the Rams will shift preseason practices back to Woodland Hills. Donald’s call on whether to return to active NFL status is expected sometime after that move, based on McVay’s prior comments.
Sources
Featured photo: The 621st Contingency Response Wing via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)