Sean McVay hopeful for Aaron Donald's return as Rams prepare for Giants

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has expressed optimism regarding the potential return of defensive tackle Aaron Donald for the upcoming Monday Night Football clash against the New York Giants. After returning from a two-year retirement on August 30, Donald is set to participate in a full practice session this Thursday, marking a significant step in his reintegration into the squad.

Donald did not travel with the team for their season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. According to McVay, the decision on whether the veteran will feature against the Giants will largely depend on his physical comfort and readiness. While the coach noted that Donald is eager to return to action, the team's recent travel schedule has limited the opportunities for him to engage in full team drills.

In other roster news, McVay provided an update on defensive end Myles Garrett, who underwent knee surgery on Monday. Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, had been managing knee swelling throughout training camp. Although the team initially hoped he could play through the injury, it became clear during the Week 1 defeat that he was unable to perform at his usual standard.

Garrett has been placed on injured reserve and is set to miss at least the next four games. McVay noted that Garrett’s recovery is progressing well, observing that the player was already walking without crutches just one day after his procedure. Despite this positive recovery, the head coach reiterated that the organization will not rush Garrett’s return. The priority remains ensuring he can complete all necessary training requirements to perform at his accustomed level before he is cleared to rejoin the active roster.