Aaron Donald activated, eligible for Rams' opener vs. 49ers

The Sept. 10 game will be the NFL's first in Australia.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 301 min read

Rams returning DT Aaron Donald passed his physical today, has been activated to their roster, will participate with team Via @AdamSchefter on X

What happened: Aaron Donald passed his physical Sunday and will begin working with the team, per Adam Schefter. He is returning after two full seasons away from NFL play.

Why it matters: The three-time Defensive Player of the Year last played in 2023, giving Los Angeles an established interior defender for an NFC West matchup. His presence changes the Rams' defensive rotation less than two weeks before the opener.

By the numbers: Donald's one-year deal is worth $20 million and can reach $30 million through playoff incentives, adding $10 million—or 50%—to its base value.

What to watch: His practice participation and game-day workload are the next checkpoints before Sept. 10.

Sources

@AdamSchefter 2026-08-30T21:54:15.932434+00:00

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