Former defensive end Aaron Donald's recent workout videos have fueled speculation about a possible NFL comeback, and insider Ian Rapoport believes he already has an idea of when that return could happen.

“My guess would be that Aaron Donald comes back in the middle of Rams training camp,” Rapoport said on the Pat McAfee Show, as per McAfee's X post.

On July 17, Rapoport made a guest appearance on the McAfee Show and weighed in on Donald’s return after the player made clear that he was contemplating it.

McAfee, for one, is excited for this possible turn of events, as was clear from his X post. 

Speculation surrounding Donald's future intensified after the Rams revamped their defense by acquiring Myles Garrett, a move that Donald himself admitted made him think about returning.

“It for sure got me thinking,” Donald said about the development in the Rams.

He retired as the 2022 Super Bowl champion, three-time DPOTY, and with eight-time first-team Pro selections. The Rams were the St. Louis Rams when Donald joined the team.

Donald's potential return has become one of the NFL's biggest offseason talking points, especially after the Rams strengthened their defense by acquiring Myles Garrett.

Rapoport's statement quickly sparked debate among fans on social media. While some welcomed the possibility of Donald returning to the Rams, many others questioned whether coming back after retirement would give him an unfair advantage.

NFL fans call out Aaron Donald for making an unfair comeback from retirement

Under an X post by Sleeper NFL, sharing the conversation between Ian Rapoport and Pat McAfee, fans strongly criticized Aaron Donald. 

“Nobody is scared of that glory hunter,” one commented under the July 17 X post.

Donald’s suggestion of giving the NFL a second chance has not met with positivity. Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia’s former and career-long center, even said his return would “be cheating.”

“Middle of camp? So he's gonna let the linemen sweat through two-a-days first, THEN drop in fresh. Veteran move,” one wrote, criticizing the timing of this guessed move. 

This comment was followed by a similar one.

“That’s not fair!” a fan wrote.

“Pitiful,” one replied curtly. 

While one fan opined that no one is afraid of Donald, another took a conflicting stance.

A fan posted a GIF of a person’s hand shaking while drinking water and captioned it as, “Yea bro, I’m not scared.”

Whether Donald ultimately decides to return remains uncertain, but Rapoport's prediction has already divided NFL fans.

Some believe the Rams legend still has plenty left to offer, while others feel a mid-camp comeback would give him an unfair edge.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Rudra Dubey