Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald just gave his clearest answer on whether or not he will play on Monday Night Football.
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald has yet to make his 2026 debut, but it appears as though that is happening on Monday.
When speaking to the media on Friday, Donald gave his clearest answer on whether or not he will suit up against the New York Giants. The Rams defender said, "That's the plan," when he was asked if he would play.
Saying "that's the plan" is not a guarantee, but it is the clearest answer that Donald has given thus far since he announced that he was set to un-retire for the 2026 season.
Donald announced on Aug. 30 that he would be playing for the Rams, as the team announced its final 53-man roster shortly after. Despite the big announcement, he and head coach Sean McVay also stated that the defender's return would be a process.
That process had been ongoing through training camp, as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year continued to engage in drills to get his body right.
The proof that Donald was not ready to play came before Week 1, as McVay revealed that the Rams defensive end would not travel with the team to Australia.
Donald may have stayed in great shape, but there is a difference between staying in great shape is vastly different than being able to stay out on the field for an entire game, let alone doing so for 17 games and more.
With Los Angeles dropping their first game to the San Francisco 49ers, and Myles Garrett also undergoing knee surgery, getting Donald back became even more important. Still, he nor the team would rush him back into action.
Donald appears to be ready to go, as he emphatically said the plan is for him to take the field against the New York Giants. It is a strong opponent and the perfect time for him to make his 2026 debut, as the Rams will have to deal with quarterback Jaxson Dart and the many offensive weapons that New York has.
The 49ers were able to silence everything the Rams threw at them, including in the pass rush.
With Donald on the field, the Giants may not be able to do the same thing. The future Hall of Famer is a game-changer, and a player who can generate double teams often.
That all depends on if Donald is back to his former self, which McVay and the rest of the Rams team have stated is the case.
