Aaron Donald Returns as Rams Rout Giants 28-6

Aaron Donald played 32 defensive snaps in his first game since the 2023 season as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 28-6.

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Giants 28-6 at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, rebounding from a Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald made his season debut after ending his retirement on Aug. 30, recording three tackles and one tackle for a loss. Donald participated in 32 defensive snaps, accounting for 58.2% of the team's total plays on that side of the ball.

Los Angeles recorded a 66.7% pass rush win rate, beating blocks within 2.5 seconds on two-thirds of their rushes. According to ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats, this performance tied for the third-best mark in the league for Week 2 and represented the franchise's highest rate since Week 11 of the 2022 season. The unit improved significantly from a 35% win rate in the previous week.

Despite the team's defensive pressure, Donald finished the contest with zero individual pressures. The veteran lineman, who practiced twice before the game, noted he felt rust early on but saw the game slow down in the second half. He appeared at a postgame news conference with a wrap on his right hand, which he described as sore.

Head coach Sean McVay attributed the victory to improved energy and a better defensive game plan compared to the season opener. Quarterback Matthew Stafford credited the atmosphere at SoFi Stadium for the team's performance, noting the crowd's reaction to Donald's introduction before kickoff.