With rumors that Aaron Donald could come out of retirement, Los Angeles Rams legend Eric Weddle issues a major warning about his potential return.
There could be a situation where the Los Angeles Rams become an even bigger threat, should perennial pass rusher Aaron Donald come out of retirement. The eventual Hall of Famer spoke about the possibility that it could happen now that Myles Garrett is in the building, but nothing has been confirmed.
There have been plenty of players who ended their retirement to come back and play, and one such player is Rams legend Eric Weddle. Weddle spoke about his own journey, but also issued a major warning regarding the return of Donald.
Weddle ended his playing career in 2019, but was thrust back into action during the 2021 season, the last time the Rams won the big game. When speaking to NFL insider Albert Breer, the former safety said it was well "worth it" to return to the game, and he also pointed to not being in shape, conversely to Donald, who continues to work out.
"It's just a lot," Weddle said. "I just think from experience, you get comfortable in what you're doing. He's still obviously training like a madman—I wasn't training like that or even working out to that extent, it was more so to just feel good. But he still is pushing around a lot of weight, and it really comes down to the commitment and the fire, if you have it or not."
Donald did talk about having the "fire" to return, but he also said weeks prior that he had no interest in stepping on the field again. Even his wife poked fun at the reports on social media.
Still, with the Rams taking a big swing at winning a Super Bowl in 2026, adding Donald to the mix would be huge. The issue that has been pointed to by Weddle is the dynamic of the defensive line, and players potentially losing out on playing time if he does return.
"Then it's the dynamics of the team and the D-line. And obviously they're going to welcome him in, but still that's going to be tough on some guys, like they're going to lose playing time there. Are they going to be OK with that? It's going to be three years from when he last played. So there are just a lot of different dynamics," Weddle said.
Weddle makes a huge point. Having Garrett in the building is already a major component, as he is set to draw not only more playing time but could potentially force other linemen and pass rushers to move down the depth chart.
The cast of Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young may see their roles diminished in a big way. Should Donald come out of retirement, that would certainly be the case.
There is also playing time to consider, as Weddle pointed out as well. He indicated that Donald may not want to play a full season. If that is the case, how does that factor into the grand scheme of things?
Nobody would shoot down the idea of Donad coming back, especially Chris Shula and the defensive coaches. However, there are many variables to consider.
Though bringing back arguably one the best pass rushers the game has ever seen, his arrival could lead to some bigger questions needing to be answered on playing time and how it impacts the young players that are growing on the Rams.
