A Plan for Donald's Return

A Plan for Donald’s Return

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Monday-Wrap-Up-A-Plan-for-Donalds-Return/a20017c9-8c74-4898-9e7a-2b7726c086b1

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald reported to the Rams on Saturday morning and was a participant in all club activities on Monday, according to head coach Sean McVay.

And while McVay did not make any definitive statements about Donald’s status for Sunday, the head coach did say the goal is for the defensive tackle to play.

“He’s back here and that’s a step in the right direction,” McVay said. “I think, like we’ve mentioned, just getting him back here is the first step and definitely want to try to get him on the field.”

Donald attended the Rams’ team meeting, positional meetings, and the workout on Monday. McVay said he didn’t want to make a “big deal” out of Donald’s return, and went about the team meeting as he would have otherwise.

“You’re showing some of the things that guys did great on special teams, defense, and offense, guys supporting each other — that was really what the team meeting entailed,” McVay said.

While Donald reported to the club over the weekend, McVay said Donald did not want to be a distraction to what was going on with the team. And that’s why he did not attend the 46-9 victory over the Colts.

“That was the first thing that he mentioned himself, because he realized how important it was for us to kind of take a step in the right direction,” McVay said. “And that’s what he wanted for his team.

“And I think that’s what you like about Aaron, is he’s all about football,” McVay continued. “He just wants to get here, get a solution to this, and get back with his teammates and compete and play the game that he loves. And that’s the impression I get from the interactions I’ve had with him.”

McVay, however, did confirm a report that he was part of the Rams contingent — including EVP of football operations Kevin Demoff, general manager Les Snead, and senior assistant Tony Pastoors — that went to Atlanta to meet with Donald’s representation prior to the fourth preseason game at Green Bay. McVay said his only purpose was to help illustrate just how important the Rams see Donald as a part of helping them win.

“I thought it was something where you feel like, ‘What can you do to be a part of the solution?’ And we thought that was a good decision,” McVay said. “It didn’t take away from anything we were doing in the Green Bay game. Our players knew exactly that — they knew that I had done that. And I think, like we talked about, if you feel like you can have an outcome that’s favorable for what we’re trying to get done in terms of this Aaron situation, I wanted to do what I could control to try to be a part of that solution.”

But now that Donald has reported, the plan is to get him back to being one of the premier defensive players in the league as quickly as possible. Tuesday is the players’ day off, but Donald is slated to go through the normal process of team activities from Wednesday on through the rest of the week. If he will play — and how much — will be determined in conjunction with head trainer Reggie Scott.

“The plan is get him going just back into the flow of a normal weekly rhythm like all of our players do. He’s back here with us now and looking to get him going,” McVay said. 
And as far as how he’ll be utilized in this game and kind of exactly what that plan entails is going to be predicated on how he feels going out to practice and getting involved. And those will be things that Reggie, myself, and the rest of our coaching staff will discuss as far as how he’s feeling.”