Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald went into the 2023 season with something to prove as injuries forced him to miss the second half of the 2022 campaign.
Donald was one of the lone holdovers on the defensive end after the Rams parted ways with several high-priced veterans to clear their cap sheet. The Rams relied on their young talent to help fill in the gaps, but Donald remained the team’s pillar on that side of the field.
It felt like Donald was finding himself more and more each week as he found ways to be productive despite playing alongside his inexperienced teammates. Donald started 16 games in the regular season and recorded eight sacks, 53 total tackles (16 for loss) and 23 quarterback hits. He was nominate to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games and was named a First-Team All-Pro.
However, Donald’s status for the 2024 season is up in the air though general manager Les Snead is certainly hoping he decides to return, via Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network:
Rams GM Les Snead was just asked if he expects @AaronDonald97 back in 2024.
Snead: "You know, we're definitely hoping Aaron is."
"I know Aaron is spending time away with the goal of being revitalized."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) February 28, 2024
Every offseason, there’s some worry within the organization that Donald will decide to call it quits. After Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI, there was a prevailing though that Donald had played his last professional football game before he signed an extension to remain with the only franchise he’s known.
Donald will turn 33 later this year and is approaching the twilight of his career, but should he return he’ll be counted on to lead the defense again. While his numbers appear to be on the downswing, he is still game planned for weekly and could find more success if the team is able to add some help in the offseason.
There’s optimism that Donald will be back, though, because he said he’d like to continue building with the current group. Time will tell what he ultimately decides to do, but it doesn’t feel like he’s ready to say goodbye yet.
Sean McVay says retirement conversations with Aaron Donald will happen at right time
With both Raheem Morris and Eric Henderson gone from Sean McVay’s staff, some took it as a sign that Donald would leave too given his relationship with the two. However, McVay said that talks with Donald and his camp about retirement will happen at the right time.
