Aaron Donald's Return Sparks Rams' Dominating Win On Monday Night
Aaron Donald ran out of the SoFi Stadium tunnel Monday night to one of the loudest ovations in recent Rams history, 982 days after his last regular season game, three years removed from retirement, back in No. 99 for the first time since 2023.
He said he "did a little bit more jumping than I used to do" in the tunnel. Matthew Stafford watched from the sideline and said he could not control himself. The Rams blew out the Giants 28-6.
Donald posted three tackles including one for loss, a third-down stop on Najee Harris that he said "felt good" but "would have been better if I was able to slam him." He did not record a pressure but his mere presence changed everything.
The Rams' pass rush win rate was 66.7 percent, tied for third-best in the NFL in Week 2 and their highest in any game since Week 11 of the 2022 season. The week before without him it was 35 percent.
The night actually belonged to Davante Adams, eight catches on 10 targets for 195 yards and two touchdowns in place of the injured Puka Nacua. Stafford threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns total.
The Giants lost Jaxson Dart to a suspected MCL sprain on the first possession and Jameis Winston could not replicate what Dart does. Malik Nabers had a shoulder scare but returned. Both teams are 1-1.
Coach Sean McVay: "He elicits attention. He brings everybody up around him." That is the Aaron Donald effect.
