Aaron Donald takes second Rams tryout amid return talk

Aaron Donald has completed a second formal workout at the Los Angeles Rams’ team facility, keeping attention on whether the retired defensive tackle could return to the roster.

The Rams treated the session as an official tryout because it used team personnel and equipment. Under league operating procedures described around the workouts, that setup requires the club to submit a formal report to the league office.

How the Rams are classifying the workouts

Rams head coach Sean McVay said the workout Rams head coach Sean McVay said the workout is part of a broader process to assess Donald’s physical condition after retirement. The team has framed the activity as a procedural step rather than a signal that a comeback decision has been reached. The second formal session followed an earlier reported workout on August 5. Alongside these structured facility sessions, Donald has continued training privately, which did not trigger league notification because it did not involve team staff or official equipment. No decision date as evaluations continue Officials have described the formal workouts as diagnostic checkpoints designed to help Donald gauge whether he feels prepared to handle professional competition again. In that framework, the Rams supply the facility environment and support, while the broader determination is portrayed as internal to Donald and the organization.

Aaron Donald

The repeat tryouts have added to public discussion about a possible return, but neither Donald nor the Rams have announced a timeline for a final call. The club also has not set a date by which it expects clarity, leaving the process open-ended.

What a comeback would change for the Rams

On the field, a return would be a significant boost for a Rams defense that finished 21st in total defense last season. The team went 5-12, and officials have linked last season’s struggles to slow opposing offenses to the wider challenges the club faced.

Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and has been described as a long-standing centerpiece of the Rams’ defense. If he returns, the team would add an immediate upgrade to its pass rush and run defense, two areas the unit struggled with last year.

If he remains retired, the rebuild continues If Donald confirms he will stay retired, the Rams would proceed with rebuilding without one of the franchise’s most prominent defensive figures from recent seasons. That scenario would raise the importance of developing younger players and leaning on free-agent additions to address defensive weaknesses.

For now, the Rams’ posture remains procedural: providing the infrastructure for evaluation, meeting league reporting requirements tied to formal tryouts, and continuing without committing to a decision date.