Rams all for Aaron Donald returning to pair with

Aaron Donald has made no public pronouncements that he’ll stay retired or return to play for the Rams.

But the three-time NFL defensive participant of the 12 months and future Hall of Famer stays a scorching subject, and Rams gamers are conscious of the thrill.

“When you have a guy that’s that serious about even considering coming out, it’s like, ‘OK, we might have a chance,’” security Quentin Lake said Monday after the Rams accomplished an organized-team exercise workout.

Chatter about Donald, 35, has been rampant since last week, when the Rams made another gigantic offseason transfer by trading for defensive end Myles Garrett.

The chance of pairing Donald with Garrett — a two-time defensive participant of the 12 months — continues to intrigue both in and out of the Rams’ facility.

Like Lake, defensive lineman Kobie Turner insistently cautioned that whatever Donald decides to do or not do was his former teammate’s prerogative.

But the chances…

“To just have two historic, if you will, defensive players on that line together,” Turner said of pairing Donald and Garrett, “and to have the rest of us who are trying to build up our reputations, and to build to that level of greatness that they’ve been able to garner, I think that would be cool for L.A.”

Said defensive coordinator Chris Shula: “Would love to have him back — with open arms.”

Shula enters his third season overseeing a protection remade by the March commerce for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, the signing of cornerback Jaylen Watson and the commerce for Garrett.

With or without Donald, the Rams are regarded as a favourite to win Super Bowl LXI, which will probably be performed in February at SoFi Stadium.

But the Rams should not hoisting the Lombardi Trophy just yet, Lake said.

“Some people say if he were to come back, just hand the Lombardi to us on a silver platter — but that’s never the case,” Lake said. “Is he a fantastic player? Yes.

“Are there so many things we could do in terms of pressures and blitzes and all that stuff? Of course. … It would be a fun year, I’ll say that.”

With quarterback Matthew Stafford — the NFL most worthwhile participant — back to lead the offense, and McDuffie and Watson fixing the crew’s biggest weak spot, the Rams already have been regarded among the favorites to play in the Super Bowl for the first time since profitable Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in 2022.

Then common supervisor Les Snead engineered the deal for Garrett, sending edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft choose and future second- and third-round picks to the Cleveland Browns for a participant who has 125 ½ sacks in 9 seasons.

Lake, Turner and Shula lamented dropping Verse — “a brother for life,” Turner said — but they’ve welcomed Garrett.

“You give a great player to get a great player,” Lake said, “and luckily, we’ve got arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. … We’re not asking Myles to do anything but just be himself.”

Last season, Garrett amassed an NFL season-record 23 sacks.

“We’re going to let him do what he does best,” Shula said, “and we all know exactly what he does best.”

McDuffie and Watson have been half of Kansas City Chiefs groups that performed in three consecutive Super Bowls, profitable titles in 2023 and 2024. Those groups featured dominating move rusher Chris Jones, so McDuffie is aware of how a participant such as Garrett permits the protection to “flip the script” and assault offenses.

“You just talk about mentality,” McDuffie said, “and a swag.”

Donald, who has 111 sacks, will surely add to that.

Not every participant in their mid-30s may return and play at a high stage after sitting out two seasons.

“I don’t think you do that if you’re a normal person,” Turner said, chuckling. “But A.D.’s not a normal person.”