Aaron Donald has time on his side, and the Rams have no reason to rush him

When Aaron Donald entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2014, many suspected that he would be too small to survive. Donald proved to critics and supporters alike that combining innate talent with ferocious passion and preparation can overcome even the most unforgiving of barriers.

Even his legendary self, however, could not escape the gnawing depletion of time. Even Donald, the Horns' own Hercules, ultimately bent the knee to its dictates.

But time did not plague him with injuries, save for a six-game absence in L.A.'s lost 2022 season. Other than that, he missed only three games in his career. Instead, 10 grueling years gnawed at his spirit and his desire for the game. When Donald no longer felt the fire inside, he stepped away on his own terms.

That fire is flickering again. With the league abuzz over his potential unretirement, the next logical question is: when?

Aaron Donald is on his own timeline

From one point of view, the sooner Donald unretires, the better. After all, the sooner he returns, the sooner he can mentor teammates, readjust to the defense, and find his fit.

If he does return, though, Donald's role will be different. He will not be tasked with absorbing
double teams week after week to create plays for teammates. He will be best deployed running not a marathon but a sprint. Similarly, safety Eric Weddle unretired just in time to propel Los Angeles to a victory in Super Bowl LVI.

There is no question that Donald is still in NFL-ready shape. There is no doubt that he still knows how to get after the quarterback. The question is how long he would be willing to subject his body to the regular-season grind for the right to compete in the playoffs. That's unlikely to be 17 games.

Donald may need only one or two games to knock the rust off. He is still Aaron Donald. That's not to say he will pick up where he left off at his peak. He won't, and the Rams don't need him to. He can still be effective in a limited, pass-rush-specific role.

The flip to switch is an internal one to reignite his passion for football. If or when that happens, everything else will be automatic. Fortunately for Donald, time is on his side. He - and the Rams - can afford to be patient.

As always, thanks for reading.

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