LOS ANGELES — His teammates had already left the Rams’ bench area, going out to midfield to shake hands after a victory over the New York Giants on Monday night.
Read more Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing to get brief audition for postseason spot
But Aaron Donald hung back. Helmet off, hands on his hips, removing them only to wipe away sweat and tears as he took in the scene at SoFi Stadium after his first football game in two years.
“I always try to take it in,” Donald said. “Being back out here playing football again, back in SoFi, all the love that was out there, all the love I felt from the fans, from my teammates, you want to take the moments in for sure.”
After a summer of suspense and workouts to get his body back into football shape, Donald now has his first game back from retirement in the rearview mirror.
It wasn’t the kind of dominance that the defensive tackle made routine during the first 10 years of his career. But in 33 snaps, he had a quarterback pressure and three run stops, including one where he met Najee Harris squarely in the hole. He still drew double-teams, as if not a day had passed since he took the field.
As he joked himself after the game Monday, Donald didn’t slam Harris into the turf as he would have two years ago. But he still had the third-fastest get-off time of any defensive tackle for the weekend at 0.75 seconds, per Next Gen Stats.
“Well, the best thing about him is he’ll be pissed [he wasn’t first],” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “It says that he still is taking great care of himself. Hard work pays off. I think the best is yet to come for him.”
Donald said Thursday he watched the film from Monday’s game at least six times, including once with his older brother who was visiting from out of town. While he was simultaneously gracious and critical toward himself in the immediate aftermath of the game, Donald came away from the film study more encouraged.
Read more Angels’ Ben Joyce satisfied with return to action despite early end to season
“I did better than what I thought,” Donald said. “Did a lot of things right. Did some things I need to clean up, obviously, hearing some calls with all the noise again, it was a little off. So little things I need to clean up, but overall I was impressed. … I was like, ‘OK, not as bad as I thought.’”
He’s still having moments where he finds himself catching up to speed. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner has had to correct him in certain moments at practice, the inverse of their dynamic during Donald’s final season when Turner was a rookie.
But Donald still has plenty to pass down himself. As the defensive linemen finished up individual drills on Thursday, Donald coached up third-year end Braden Fiske, grabbing his shoulder pads to demonstrate his point as Turner watched on silently.
Donald has allowed his younger teammates to go ahead of him in individual drills at practice, part of his effort to “earn my keep,” he explained. But he’s happy with his trajectory after two years away from the game.
“Go back to past film, my first game back, how I worked. I’m like, ‘[Expletive], I look better than I did prior years,’” Donald said. “So like I said, I think I’m on the right pace. I’m pretty confident with where I’m at right now.”
INJURY REPORT
Wide receiver Puka Nacua (groin) did not practice for the second straight day on Thursday. The All-Pro sat out the victory over the Giants with the injury. Tight end Colby Parkinson (knee) and safety Kam Kinchens (hamstring) were also non-participants.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson (knee) and tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) were full participants in practice Thursday. Linebacker Nate Landman (shoulder) and receiver Jordan Whittington (quadricep) were limited participants.
Read more Asian American Museum at Great Park hosts educational community gatherings, cultural celebrations