Aaron Donald may have retired, but the Los Angeles Rams defensive line remains in good shape thanks to its next generation of players.
Donald set the standard for what it means to be a Rams defensive lineman, but the new group featuring Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Byron Young has met the challenge of filling in the legend’s shoes. No one player can ever replace No. 99 up front, but the group as a collective has found ways to replicate his success.
Turner, in particular, has emerged as the leader of the group and for good reason as he got to play alongside Donald and learn from him up close.
Turner recently recounted a story of how Donald bought him a Rolex during his rookie season, via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network:
“I’ll tell you what sealed the deal. It was the My Cause, My Cleats game. We’re playing versus the Browns, I was representing this amazing cause. One of my teammates passed by suicide and so I wore his jersey to the game while supporting the mental health foundation. I had it on my cleats, man, and I was like I really gotta make some big plays for him. We get to the last drive of the game, I still don’t have any sacks. Think the first or the second play, I’m right there but I don’t bring him down he gets the ball away. Then boom, back to back I get one sack on my own and then I get the half sack with AD. That’s when we start skipping off the field and I realize I got a Rolex. Had to get five. So I got to five and AD got me the Rolex. I tell you, man, I wear this basically everywhere. It’s super special. But obviously for what it means and what it meant to be able to have somebody that you really look up to support you in that way. I keep this thing with me.”
Donald was known as a generous teammate during his time in the league and he clearly cared for younger teammates like Turner. Turner’s gone on to establish himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, something that has to make Donald proud.
Aaron Donald teaches Jared Verse a lesson in the weight room
Jared Verse may have missed out on playing with Aaron Donald, but the two still got a chance to link up for a workout. In videos released afterward, the Rams legend apparently humbled Verse in the weight room.
