Cooper Kupp stoked Seahawks fans' Aaron Donald fears without even trying to

The thought that Aaron Donald could return to the Los Angeles Rams is one to strike fear in the hearts of their NFC West foes. Will Myles Garrett's arrival be enough to lure him back? Donald might be 35, over two years removed from his last NFL snap, but he still has plenty of juice. That much is obvious. 

Ex-Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, Donald's former teammate, certainly doesn't want to see him on the opposition now that Kupp is a Seattle Seahawk. Fortunately, he has the situation under control. Donald won't be coming back if Kupp can help it. 

"Oh yeah, no, I already texted him and told him that he's not allowed," Kupp joked in an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. "I just texted Aaron and said, 'Don't even think about it.' I just left it at that. So we're good. I'm not worried about it, because he's not. Because I told him so. I already nipped it in the bud. No one has to worry, it's all set."

Facetious or not, Kupp just reminded Seahawks fans that Donald's potential return, whether that happens before the season or during a late-year push, is not something Rams rivals should look forward to. 

Donald's possible return is terrifying for rest of the league

The 2021-22 Super Bowl MVP had a front-row seat to Donald's heroics on the other side of the ball. Donald never failed to make a Pro Bowl in his 10-year career. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was an All-Pro First Teamer eight times. He is already a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Despite Kupp's command, Donald may indeed be thinking about it. 

"I don't know what's going to happen. I love Aaron," continued Kupp in a more serious vein. "He's just a great football player, great dude. Loved taking the field with him. I don't know what's going to happen. That would be crazy. I don't care, whatever, how old he is, how long he's not played. Aaron Donald's Aaron Donald. But it doesn't matter, because I already told him he can't. Nipped it in the bud."

Seahawks fans should hope the last part is true. Yes, their team is the reigning Super Bowl champion, victors over the Rams in the NFC title game. But after adding Garrett, Trent McDuffie, and Jaylen Watson, the Horns have revamped their defense to match a dominant offense. There is a reason they are easy Super Bowl favorites. Bringing back Donald would be icing on the cake.

His impact might be more than that. He was still playing at a high level when he retired after the 2023 season. The scary part about Kupp's response is that he's right. Donald hasn't lost his Aaron Donald-ness. Maybe he's not his old All-Pro self, but he could probably jump in and make an impact on short notice. 

Coming from Kupp, who spent seven seasons alongside Donald in Los Angeles, those comments are even more terrifying. Even his playful schtick served to emphasize how much teams don't want to see Donald back in action. The reason the joke works - and Eisen nearly fell off his chair guffawing - is that Kupp and his Seattle teammates have every reason to hope Donald follows the "advice." 

With Rams-Seahawks slugfests backloaded on the schedule, Seattle would have no escape from Donald even in the case of a late-season unretirement. He'd be there, alongside Garrett, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner on a formidable defensive line. 

In truth, perhaps Kupp is rooting for his one-time Super Bowl ally to make his way back to the NFL. He'd just prefer not to face him on gameday. Not allowed, AD. 

If Donald does come back, perhaps he will be so kind as to sit those Seahawks games out. Right. The request is at least worth a text message. 

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