Sean McVay hints at Aaron Donald return: 'It's trending upward'

The biggest question surrounding the Los Angeles Rams is whether Aaron Donald will be returning to the field after two years in retirement. Donald has been working out on his own and as he ponders the choice, head coach Sean McVay clarified on Friday when that choice could be made.

During his presser with reporters, McVay stated Donald won’t make a final decision until after training camp. The Rams will return to their Woodland Hills facility after wrapping up camp at Loyola Marymount with their final practice on Aug. 7.

McVay also indicated it’s more likely than not that Donald will come back.

“Things are going in the right direction. If there’s an arrow, it’s trending upward,” McVay said, via Michael J. Duarte of The California Post.

“Things are going in the right direction. If there’s an arrow, it’s trending upward.” — LA Rams head coach Sean McVay on the latest on Aaron Donald’s return.
He added that there won’t be an announcement or any news until after the team returns to their training facility in…

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) August 1, 2026

Donald will continue to train and if he wishes to return, it’s likely the team will have to work out the framework of what his contract will look like this season. However, that is a minor hurdle and isn’t expected to factor into any decision.

In the meantime, the Rams will continue with their training camp preparations with several more practices, including a handful in front of fans.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Sean McVay hints at Aaron Donald return: ‘It’s trending upward’