Rams coach Sean McVay was pleased with the way Aaron Donald played Monday night in his first game back from a two-year retirement.
“I can’t even think of the words to say the love and respect I have for who he is,” McVay said. “He does everything the right way. I think the best thing is his standards — he’s going to be excited about where he can improve. But pretty impressive to be out almost 1,000 days, to come back and play a defensive line position, 30-plus snaps, make your impact hugely felt, still causing double and triple teams because of a better team than who he is.”
McVay said it was clear that Donald kept himself in shape during his retirement, but that Donald still has things he can improve on as the season goes on.
“He’s still taking great care of himself, hard work pays off,” McVay said. “And I think the best is yet to come from him.”
McVay said he personally got emotional watching Donald come out of the tunnel and that he could tell Donald’s teammates and the crowd, too.
“You get bumps,” McVay said. “He lifted them all up, and that’s what greats do.”
