The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals held their second joint practice on Thursday that was ultimately canceled early due to a massive brawl involving Aaron Donald.
Tempers usually run high during joint practices, but the eight-time Pro Bowler took it up a notch as he was caught on video swinging two Bengals helmets before being shoved out of a pile.
The two teams were involved in a couple of minor scuffles earlier in the day, with Bengals right tackle La’el Collins throwing a Rams helmet after pulling it off Leonard Floyd.
It isn’t clear what angered Donald, but Rams head coach Sean McVay immediately pulled his players off the field after the brawl to avoid potential injuries, via NFL reporter Dov Kleiman:
#Rams Aaron Donald used a #Bengals helmet to hit Cincy players after a fight broke out at joint practice. pic.twitter.com/GmfnsdCinJ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 25, 2022
Donald was scheduled to speak to the media after practice but he never did, although McVay did comment, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic:
A furious McVay jumped into the scrum that ended practice. “I don’t know what I was, I just see guys swinging and some guys have helmets on, some don’t, you just never know what can occur. My biggest concern is unnecessary injuries …” (added that he didn’t think anyone got hurt)
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) August 25, 2022
The 31-year-old could now face potential punishment for his actions, although it would have to come from the Rams themselves as the league cannot hand out suspensions for practice behavior.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was suspended indefinitely by the NFL after hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with a helmet three years ago, although that was of course in a game.
The Rams and Bengals are scheduled to play each other on Saturday in the final game of the preseason. It will mark their first meeting since L.A. defeated Cincinnati, 23-20, in Super Bowl LVI.
