Aaron Donald’s return from retirement sent a jolt through the NFL, but the Los Angeles Rams’ decision to welcome him back is about far more than nostalgia. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year walked away at the peak of his powers, but the franchise is convinced he can still be the missing piece for a roster built to win Super Bowl 61. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula now faces the challenge of integrating Donald into a front four that already features superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett, creating a matchup nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. During his peak seasons, Donald forced quarterbacks to release the ball in just 2.
5 seconds on average, with an average throw depth of only six yards. With Donald attacking the interior gaps and Garrett bending off the edge, NFC West quarterbacks like Brock Purdy and Kyler Murray could be facing constant pressure and hurried decisions all season long. However, the Rams are well aware that Donald is not the player he once was during the grueling regular season. The plan is to manage his snaps carefully, particularly early in the year, with expectations of just 10 to 15 rotational snaps per game in September and October.
As the season wears on, the team intends to ramp that number up to 20 or 25 high-leverage snaps per game through the stretch run in November, December, and January. According to analysts, Donald has kept himself in outstanding physical condition during his time away and is believed to be at the same playing strength as before. The question is not whether he can perform, but whether he can hold up over a 20-game marathon that extends into mid-February. The coaching staff understands that Donald’s presence is not just about individual production, but about the pressure he relieves from the rest of the defense.
The quarterback position is an equally pressing concern for the Rams, even with 38-year-old starter Matthew Stafford under center. The franchise’s biggest unanswered question is what happens if Stafford misses time, especially as he ages deeper into his late 30s. The answer, they hope, lies in rookie quarterback Ty Simpson, who emerged as the star of the preseason. Simpson, selected as the franchise’s quarterback of the future, showed exceptional poise and command of the offense throughout the preseason, moving through his progressions with confidence and making big plays both inside and outside the pocket.
His ability to fit the ball into tight windows and feed receivers in stride reminded coaches and scouts of a seasoned pro, not a first-year player. The Rams are confident that Simpson, who ran pro-style concepts under high pressure in the SEC at Alabama, is more than capable of stepping in if Stafford were to miss time with an injury. The team’s strategy is to keep all three quarterbacks on the roster, with the goal of protecting the offense if Stafford goes down with something like a high ankle sprain that could sideline him for three games. They want to know if Simpson can keep the team afloat during that stretch and maintain their standing in the NFC.
While Stafford and defensive tackle Aaron Donald provide veteran leadership on opposite sides of the ball, Simpson represents the franchise’s future. His willingness to soak up knowledge from Stafford, while showing stone-cold composure in tight games, has convinced the Rams that their future is in safe hands. Head coach Sean McVay’s offense, which shares many similarities to the system Simpson ran at Alabama, is expected to take some pressure off the rookie when called upon. This high-stakes gamble shows that Los Angeles is no longer content to just contend for division titles.
With Super Bowl 61 on the horizon, every snap of the 2026 season will determine whether this legendary franchise can reclaim its spot atop the NFL and fulfill its championship destiny. If Donald and Simpson deliver on their promise, the rest of the NFL could be in serious trouble.
