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Aaron Donald Returns, Rams Rout Giants

6:04 AM ETConfirmed

Sports Desk

In Short: Aaron Donald returned from a two-year retirement to help the Rams defeat the Giants 28-6 on Monday Night Football.

Aaron Donald, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, returned from a two-year retirement to play in the Los Angeles Rams' home opener against the New York Giants on Monday night.

The Rams, who had been embarrassed in their season opener by the San Francisco 49ers, collected a 28-6 victory over the Giants.

Donald's return was highly anticipated, as he had been practicing and felt prepared for the game.

The Rams' defense, bolstered by Donald's presence, dominated the Giants, who had started their season with a strong performance against the Dallas Cowboys.

Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston took over for the Rams, but the gap in quality was evident as the Giants struggled to keep up.

Donald's return was significant, as he retired in March 2024 after a 10-season career and did not play in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The Rams' decision to bring back Donald on a one-year deal highlights the team's belief in his potential impact.

The Giants, despite their strong start, were unable to match the Rams' defensive prowess, with quarterback Jaxson Dart leaving the game with a knee injury.

The Rams' defense, led by Donald, recorded several sacks and forced turnovers, contributing to their decisive victory.

Donald's return could help the Rams erase the bitter taste of their season-opening loss and set the stage for a strong start to the season.

The Rams' defense, with Donald back in the lineup, showed signs of the dominant unit that led the NFL in both yards and points last season.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The Los Angeles Rams’ star plans to return on “Monday Night Football” against the New York Giants, he said on Friday.
• The 35-year-old returned to the Rams after a two-year retirement just before the season began.
• He began contemplating the return in the spring after the Rams made the blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
• Donald has been ramping up into football shape after two years off, and the Rams decided to leave him at home for their trip to Melbourne, Australia, where they lost 27-7 to the San Francisco 49ers to fall to 0-1.
• “Do I feel like I can play at a high level. Yes. Do I feel like I can still be myself. One hundred percent,” Donald said upon returning.
• LOS ANGELES — The wait to see Aaron Donald on an NFL field again is almost over.
• The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year would make his return at SoFi Stadium, where he previously played his home games and helped lead the Rams to a Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals in February 2022.
• Because of the time off, it is not yet clear how large a role Donald will have on Monday night.
• The smile on Aaron Donald's face said it all, well before he verbalized his expectation that he will play for the Los Angeles Rams in their home opener against the New York Giants on Monday night.
• Defensive tackle Kobie Turner called Donald's likely return an extra jolt of enthusiasm for a team looking to shake off a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
• "He won't be gone forever, so let him rest up, get healthy, and he'll be back soon," Donald said.
• The only uncertainty was how long it would take him to feel physically ready to step back on the field in an NFL game.

What's still developing

• L.A. gets Aaron Donald back on Monday night, but the so-called super team looks like anything but so far.
• The Giants, meanwhile, got off to just about as good a start to the John Harbaugh era as one could imagine.
• Worse yet, the Rams saw Myles Garrett head to injured reserve after he ended up having knee surgery.
• The Giants did whatever they wanted against the Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" last weekend.
• The Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams connection powered the Rams through as Aaron Donald also made his highly anticipated return.
• On a night where the Rams didn't blow open the doors sooner than they would've liked, it was Adams who continuously made elite catches.
• I don’t know, I ain’t really think about that,' Donald said when asked what it will feel like to run out on the field at SoFi Stadium again.
• It’s always a day at a time,' Rams defensive coordinator Aaron Shula said of Donald, who practiced in full on Thursday and Friday.
• Shula, like Rams coach Sean McVay, wouldn’t commit to Donald playing from a coach’s perspective.
• “That’s the plan,” Donald said when asked if he’ll play against the Giants.
• Jaxson Dart had arguably the single-best game of his career, Cam Skattebo rumbled through the defense all night, Malik Nabers made it through his return game unscathed and emerged with six receptions and Isaiah Likely lit up the second level of the Dallas defense for a pair of touchdowns.
• This replay angle highlighted the hit to Dart’s left knee: Giants beat writer Dan Duggan, who covers the team for The Athletic, captured this footage of Dart limping off the field as the Giants rallied around their quarterback: After New York’s defense forced a three-and-out on the Rams’ first possession of the game, backup quarterback Jameis Winston came onto the field along with the rest of the Giants offense.

Sources

• Hawaiitribune-Heraldlink
• NBC Los Angeleslink
• Sbnationlink
• Warpbeatlink
• Westhawaiitodaylink
• Fantasylifelink
• Hitclink
• Profootballnetworklink
• Yardbarkerlink
• Bolaviplink
• Bigblueviewlink
• Turfshowtimeslink
• Foxsportslink
• Profootballrumorslink
• CBS Sportslink
• WarpBeat — background on Aaron Donald Set to Return for Rams' Home Opener Against Giants link
• ESPN — video link