Los Angeles Rams veteran defensive lineman Aaron Donald's return could hardly have gone better, as he made his 2026 debut in a 28-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.

After missing the Rams' season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, Donald finally took the field for his first NFL game action in 32 months. The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year finished with three tackles, including a tackle for loss, while playing 32 defensive snaps.

After helping Los Angeles get its first win of the 2026 season, Donald kept things short and sweet.

“It was a good start, good win. Enjoy it today and right back to work tomorrow,” he said.

"It was a good start, good win. Enjoy it today and right back to work tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/cesWAI7lV1

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 22, 2026

Donald's biggest play came late in the second quarter with the Rams leading 14-3. On third-and-2 from the Los Angeles 3-yard line, he beat his block and stopped Giants running back Najee Harris for a 3-yard loss. The play helped force New York to settle for a 24-yard field goal after reaching the Rams' 11-yard line following a forced fumble by Jevon Holland.

The performance came as Los Angeles dealt with multiple absences, including wide receiver Puka Nacua and defensive end Myles Garrett. The Rams defense limited New York to 182 total yards and intercepted Jameis Winston, who replaced quarterback Jaxson Dart after Dart suffered a left knee injury on the Giants' opening drive. Winston finished 11-of-27 for 111 yards and an interception.

While Donald made his presence felt defensively, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams led Los Angeles' offense. Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Adams caught eight passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, recording the fourth-highest receiving-yard output of his 13-year career and his best numbers in a Rams uniform.

Trent McDuffie also logged his first interception as a Ram and finished with four passes defensed, a new single-game career high. Stafford's four touchdown passes included two to Adams, one to Kyren Williams and one to Terrance Ferguson.

For Donald, the victory was the beginning of his second stint with Los Angeles after agreeing to a one-year, $20 million deal late last month. He originally joined the franchise as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and retired in 2024 after 10 seasons. He closed out the first phase of his career with 111 sacks and tallied 53 tackles in 2023.

The Rams will next face the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.