Sean McVay "hopeful" Aaron Donald will play this week

The Giants expect Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald to play on Monday night. Rams coach Sean McVay is “hopeful.”

McVay said before practice that Donald would fully participate on Thursday, and indeed, Donald is not on the team’s injury report. (Donald’s roster exemption was lifted Friday.)

Donald did not travel to Australia with the team, staying at home to continue working his way back from a two-year absence from football. He participated in individual drills for the first time on Aug. 30 and joined team drills on Sept. 6.

McVay said the Rams are not looking for specific benchmarks to determine whether Donald plays for the first time since 2023.

“It’s more along the line of how does he feel?” McVay said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.

Donald is “obviously champing at the bit” to play, but the Rams’ travel schedule to Australia has prevented limited practice opportunities for Donald.

“But what we are hopeful is, is that we’ll have some good work today and tomorrow and then hopefully he’s feeling good enough and if he says he’s ready to go, then we’ll be excited to see him,” McVay said.

Rams defensive end Myles Garrett is “feeling good” after knee surgery on Monday, but the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has no timeline for his return. Garrett was on crutches on Wednesday and walking without them Thursday.

Because Garrett is on injured reserve, he will miss at least the next four games.

“We’re not going to rush him back,” McVay said. “We want to make sure that he’s feeling good, he’s able to get out on the practice field, do all the things that are necessary for him to perform at a level that he’s been accustomed to.”