The Los Angeles Rams have received encouraging injury news on Aaron Donald ahead of their Week 5 Monday Night Football matchup against the Buffalo Bills. After missing last week’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles because of a back issue, Donald is now expecting to return to the field against Josh Allen and Buffalo.
Aaron Donald says there have been no setbacks
Donald provided the latest update Friday after progressing from a limited practice Thursday to a full participant. The veteran defensive lineman said there have been “no setbacks” with his back and confirmed that he plans to play Monday night.
“I feel good,” Donald said, adding that he feels significantly better than he did a week earlier. The Rams ultimately chose not to play him against Philadelphia after he missed the entire week of practice while dealing with the back issue.
Donald’s return would be a major boost for a Rams defense preparing for one of the NFL’s most dangerous quarterbacks. Through two appearances this season, the future Hall of Famer has recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit while playing just over half of Los Angeles’ defensive snaps.
The Rams have already demonstrated that they can play well without Donald, defeating the Eagles 24-20 despite his absence. However, having him back in the middle of the defensive line gives Los Angeles another proven player capable of creating pressure and disrupting the pocket.
Donald’s return comes at important time for Rams
The timing of Donald’s return is particularly important because the Rams are still waiting on another major defensive addition. Myles Garrett remains on injured reserve following knee surgery, meaning Los Angeles will not yet have its two superstar defensive linemen on the field together.
Still, Donald believes the Rams have enough talent to challenge Buffalo. The matchup will put the 35-year-old directly against Allen, who presents a unique challenge because of his ability to extend plays and hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground.
The Rams have now officially listed Donald without a game-status designation, meaning he is cleared to play Monday night. Cornerback Jaylen Watson and tight end Colby Parkinson also received no game-status designation, giving Los Angeles additional reinforcements for the Week 5 showdown.
After missing last week’s game, Donald appears ready to make his return under the bright lights. If his back holds up as expected, the Rams will have one of their biggest defensive stars available for a critical matchup against Allen and the Bills.
Subscribe FREE for the latest content on the DrRoto YouTube Channel