Sean McVay says Aaron Donald 'looked outstanding' during Rams tryout but is still mulling whether to return

As former All-Pro pass rusher Aaron Donald decides whether he wants to return to the NFL, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is making it clear he believes Donald can still play. A day after confirming Donald had a “tryout” with the team, McVay provided more details on that tryout, and gave an update on Donald’s situation.

McVay continued to speak glowingly about Donald’s performance during that tryout, saying the pass rusher “looked outstanding,” per ESPN. Despite that, however, the Rams are still unsure whether Donald wants to come out of retirement.

"He's very deliberate and intentional about what this looks like," McVay said of Donald. "... Things are going in the right direction. He's feeling good, but we're not to where we are able to say whether or not he is or isn't ready to do it. But he's doing great, and he looked outstanding, as I think all of us would expect."

McVay also said Donald would not work out with the team again, though has other plans to stay in shape away from the team.

That was slightly more detail than McVay provided Wednesday, when he was first asked about Donald trying out for the team. McVay didn’t say much on the topic, though was effusive in his praise of Donald, who hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2023 season. McVay called it the “best tryout that we’ve ever had.” The coach added that it was deemed a tryout as a way to make it compliant with the collective-bargaining agreement. The Rams just wanted a way to get Donald in the building and use the team’s equipment. A “tryout” was the easiest path to that.

When asked Thursday whether there was anything else Donald needed to do to prove to the Rams he can still play, McVay simply replied, “No.”

McVay also made it clear that he will not hold it against Donald if the pass rusher decides to remain retired, per ESPN.

"This guy gave this organization everything he had for 10 years. And so if he is going to do it, he's going to do it the right way. And if not, he's got a lot of cool stuff going on as a husband, as a father, and doing what he's doing business-wise."

The Rams are, by many measures, one of the best and most complete teams in the NFL heading into the 2026 season. While Donald hasn’t played in the NFL in a few seasons, even a Donald at 80 percent of what he used to be would still give the team another weapon on defense.

If McVay’s comments are to be believed, Donald still has a lot left in the tank. That probably explains why McVay has been so enthusiastic when talking about the tryout. He would love to have Donald back for one more Super Bowl run.