What happened: Asked whether he would play Monday night, Donald replied, "That's the plan." He has not appeared yet this season after being ruled out for Week 1 on Sept. 8.
Why it matters: A Donald return would put one of the league's premier defensive players back on the field for Week 2 and raise the degree of difficulty for New York. It would also complete a buildup that had been moving in this direction all week, from early reports that the Giants game was a realistic target to Donald's own answer Friday.
By the numbers: Return timeline: Donald was ruled out for Week 1 on Sept. 8, was cited as a possible option for the Giants game on Sept. 13, drew renewed optimism on Sept. 16, and now says he expects to go Monday night.
What to watch: The next checkpoint is Monday night's active list. If Donald is up, it will be his first game action of the 2026 season.