Aaron Donald will not consider a return to the NFL unless he is fully healthy and can perform at his highest level, according to his former Los Angeles Rams teammate Michael Brockers. Brockers shared his assessment of Donald's mindset during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show.
"He’s not going to attempt to play this game if he’s not at a hundred percent yet," Brockers said of Donald. "He doesn’t see himself going out there, putting bad things on tape, or bad things on film just to collect a check or opportunity for a Super Bowl."
Rumors of Donald potentially coming out of retirement have intensified in recent weeks. The speculation gained further traction after the Rams officially worked out Donald on Wednesday. Donald has also shared videos of himself participating in football drills throughout the summer.
Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time Pro Bowl selection, played 10 seasons in the NFL, establishing himself as one of the league's most dominant pass rushers. He was a key member of the Rams team that reached Super Bowl LIII in 2018 and later won Super Bowl LVI in 2022, where his sack secured the victory.
Brockers and Donald were teammates for eight seasons, including the period when the Rams were based in St. Louis. They were part of the team's efforts to rebuild a winning culture.
"He wants to dominate every time he’s on the field, so I would expect to see him as close to his prime as possible, especially when you’re not getting triple-teamed and quadruple-teamed when you’re playing an opponent," Brockers added.
Donald was seen performing drills at UCLA’s practice facility on Friday afternoon. When approached by young fans, he was asked about the possibility of returning to the NFL.