Aaron Donald's Potential Rams Return Hinges on Injury Concerns, Says Former Teammate

The possibility of Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald returning to the field this offseason hinges on his comfort level with potential injuries, according to former Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth.

Whitworth, who played alongside Donald for five seasons and won a Super Bowl with him, stated in an interview that Donald has "a pique of interest" in re-signing with the Rams after retiring following the 2023 season. However, Whitworth emphasized that the ultimate decision will depend on how Donald feels physically.

"I think it’s going to be how comfortable he is with going back out there and understanding not the positive, but the negative,” Whitworth said. “And that is you get injured. Injuries, things that affect you past football. It’s going to be how comfortable he is with that."

Donald, a future Hall of Famer, has been training consistently, a trait Whitworth shares. Whitworth noted that Donald's daily physical well-being will be the key indicator for his readiness to return to professional football.

Whitworth, who retired after the 2021 season at age 41, has personal experience with contemplating a comeback. He explained that for him, the risk of a career-altering injury at his age outweighed the desire to play.

"I played as long as I could possibly play,” Whitworth said. “And then at 41, 42, when there was a couple inklings — ‘Would you come? Would you?’ Yeah, but man, at this age and as long I’ve played, an injury that affects the rest of my life is probably not worth it.”

However, Whitworth added that he would likely approach the situation differently if he were Donald's age. "If I was 35, just speaking for me, there’s no question I’d be back. If you told me the Rams only void was at left tackle, at 35, I would do everything possible to see if I could do it.”

Donald and Whitworth remain friends in retirement and are scheduled to host a camp together later this month. Whitworth acknowledged that only Donald himself can truly assess his body's condition and make the final decision regarding a return to the Rams.