Rams revel in Aaron Donald’s comeback, but will he

After a two-year retirement, Aaron Donald rejoined the Rams.

Will he be a part of them in Australia for their Sept. 10 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers?

“If he’s able to go, great,” coach Sean McVay said Monday. “If not, that’s kind of how we’ve been operating as is…

“If he’s not ready, and that’s not what’s best for him and the team, absolutely wouldn’t have him play in Australia.”

A day after agreeing to phrases and going through particular person defensive position drills during observe, Donald was not on the sphere Monday. The three-time defensive participant of the yr and eight-time All-Pro labored in the weight room.

McVay said it was “part of the plan all along,” and reiterated that the Rams would take it a day at a time, with suggestions from Donald and Reggie Scott, the Rams’ senior vice president of sports activities medication and efficiency.

“I know it’s annoying as hell to say, ‘I’m taking it a day at a time,’ but it is a unique thing,” McVay said. “Him being able to help guide us and then being able to trust Reggie and what we think is best for the ramp-up is what we’re going to do.”

Rams gamers are still processing the fact that Donald has joined a star-studded group that is favored to win the Super Bowl.

“I was speechless at first,” security Quentin Lake said. “I kind of knew there were things to be talked about but for it to actually happen and really that dream to come true, it was crazy.”

Defensive lineman Kobie Turner said phrases had been pointless when he walked into the Rams’ facility Monday. He just seemed at teammates and everybody knowingly nodded their heads.

Lake recounted an exchange later in the day when he walked onto the sphere and embraced Donald.

“Man, this is wild,” Donald said.

“Yeah, man,” Lake said. “I bet.”

Lake performed with Donald for two seasons, Turner for one before Donald retired after the 2023 season with 111 profession sacks.

Turner recalled his first recreation as a rookie in 2023 against the Seattle Seahawks, and Donald’s demeanor.

“Just seeing he’s all smiles, whatever, hanging out, and then when it’s time to go you just see the fierceness in his eyes,” Turner said. “And there’s not another way to fully really describe it. But you can just tell, ‘All right, this dude is ready to go.’”

Turner goals to “use that camaraderie” and deliver it to the defensive entrance.

“I’m super excited about it,” Turner said, “and you can feel the entire building be super excited about it.”

Etc.

The Rams elected 11 group captains: Quarterback Matthew Stafford; operating back Kyren Williams; receiver Davante Adams; tight end Tyler Higbee; heart Coleman Shelton; defensive linemen Kobie Turner and Myles Garrett; inside linebacker Nate Landman; cornerback Trent McDuffie; security Quentin Lake and long snapper Joe Cardona. … The Rams signed 16 gamers to their observe squad. They embrace operating backs Dean Connors and Jordan Waters; receivers Alex Bachman and Brennan Presley; tight end Dan Villari; offensive linemen Austin Blaske and Blake Hance; defensive linemen Tim Keenan III, Larrell Murchison and Bill Norton; outdoors linebacker Darryl Peterson III; inside linebacker Elias Neal; cornerbacks Cam Lampkin and Nyzier Fourqurean; and safeties Nick Andersen and Tanner Ingle. They also signed Australian punter Jack Bouwmeester under an worldwide participant exemption.