The Los Angeles Rams defense will have an entirely new look to it after parting ways with several veterans and rotation pieces.
However, the Rams do have their pillar and star in Aaron Donald, who is fully healthy and is with the team during OTAs. Donald may not have as much help next season, but he’s still a force of nature who will command all the attention of opposing teams when the games begin.
Like Sean McVay, Los Angeles had to wait and see if Donald would return for another year after rumors circulated he was contemplating retirement. However, the star defensive tackle said the thought never crossed his mind, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“Not really,” Donald said Wednesday, speaking to Los Angeles reporters for the first time since suffering what became a season-ending ankle injury back in November. “Honestly, you never want to end your career how it was last year, so it never really crossed my mind. I was just trying to do everything I can to get myself healthy to be here today.”
Donald’s high-ankle sprain essentially ended the Rams’ season and he admitted that his offseason preparation this time around was much different than what he’s accustomed to:
“It was different,” Donald said. “Obviously this is my first time in my whole life playing football having a serious injury, so having to sit down and really get my body back to where I needed to be, treat my body how I needed to do it, it just was a long process. But it comes with the profession. It’s a physical sport, anything can happen. So just try to do everything I can to get myself back to where I’m at today.”
Donald underwent ankle surgery to fix the issue and all reports have him operating at 100 percent, a very welcome development considering the upcoming year ahead. With so many holes on the defense to fill, Donald will need to have a monstrous year to hold down a unit that will likely struggle as his younger teammates find their footing.
Regardless, though, seeing Donald back on the field will be exciting for the fans as they definitely missed his presence down the stretch last season. Even if Los Angeles struggles to cobble together wins, Donald and McVay can use this year to rebuild the team’s foundation and set them up for success down the line.
