Aaron Donald almost recovered a fumble in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers, and had Donald actually recovered that ball, he may have scored a touchdown. Instead, Donald botched the recovery and he was left with nothing.
If you watch Donald talk about it, underneath the
laugher for this blunder, he knows he needs to be better. He talks about the reality that if the Rams didn’t win, or if they were trailing, not recovering the ball wouldn’t have been such a laughing matter. Donald wants to be better for the Rams, and the Rams will need him and everyone to play at their best to recover from their 4-4 start.
Rams’ Aaron Donald Breaks Down Viral Muffed Fumble Opportunity (sports.yahoo)
“Donald explained that he may have gotten a bit too excited about the chances of scoring his first-ever defensive touchdown, which led to his missing out completely on the fumble recovery.
“Boom. I seen the ball. First thing came to my head. ‘Touchdown. I’m going to get this ball.’ I should have slowed down, but I felt people behind me like I want to get hit in my back. That’s going to hurt. So, I tried to go full speed and scoop it. The ball was going I thought the ball was going to bounce this way, but it bounced that way. And it just looked all damn silly,” Donald said.“
Aaron Donald gets brutally honest about Rams return (nypost)
“The 35-year-old three-time Defensive Player of the Year made a candid admission about his return to The Sporting Tribune’sEric Lambkins II.
“No, it’s not what I expected, but we here,” Donald said of his return. He then added, “And I’m going to enjoy it though, you know. I’m enjoying the process. I’m enjoying myself week in and week out getting better. I’m enjoying being out there with the guys.”
“Ain’t what I expected, but I’m enjoying it,” he added.
Donald also spoke about getting Myles Garrett back healthy in Los Angeles’ upcoming game against the Washington Commanders, as Garrett has been sidelined since the Rams’ Week 1 game.“
Myles Garrett expected to play vs. Commanders (ramswire)
“The returns of Garrett and Ferguson will both be huge for the Rams, who have missed them over the last month-plus. Josaiah Stewart will now take on a more limited role in the pass-rush rotation, while Ferguson steps in immediately and becomes the Rams’ top pass-catching tight end.
With Davante Adams out, the Rams badly need another receiving threat, and Ferguson provides just that. Garrett, meanwhile, is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the record-holder for the most sacks in a season (23).“
NFL predictions: Washington Commanders vs Los Angeles Rams (sports.yahoo)
“Brown is a former playoff hero with the Commanders who lit up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions during 2025’s playoff run, before wilting with 42 yards in the NFC Title Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown has played in seven games this season and has contributed, albiet at a reduced rate, with nine receptions for 94 yards and no touchdowns. He has been dealing with a calf injury.
Burks has been ramping up his production this season with 12 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns, including 81 yards against the Eagles on November 1. He is dealing with a left foot injury.“
Myles Garrett Set to Make Return vs. Commanders, But What Should Rams Expect? (si.com)
“The Rams traded for Garrett in what was their biggest acquisition of the offseason. However, shortly into training camp, Garrett began missing practices with what was described as knee soreness and then was placed on injured reserve that week as he underwent arthroscopic surgery.
“There were just things I was dealing with mechanically that only continued to worsen as I played more throughout that game,” said Garrett on Friday. “It was rough and I was trying to avoid it, but you learn and you grow. Now it’s just a lesson that I had to learn from and I took the necessary steps to come back.”
With Jaylen Watson heading on injured reserve earlier this week, the Rams won’t get a look at what their defense could have been with Garrett, Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Aaron Donald. However, the Rams will get a look at what their defense can do with Donald and Garrett on the field together for the first time.“
Myles Garrett’s Expected Return Gives Los Angeles Rams a Pass-Rush Boost (athlonsports)
“Locked On Rams Squad Show host Gavin Carlson said Garrett can help compensate for Watson’s absence by shortening the time Daniels has to diagnose coverage. Carlson’s central point was not that one pass rusher erases the loss of a productive cornerback; it is that Garrett can force quicker decisions, creating more manageable coverage situations for the defensive backs who remain.”
Rams safety Quentin Lake apologizes to Justin Herbert for ‘deli meat’ comment, even though he has a point (sports.yahoo)
“According to The Los Angeles Times, Lake sent an apology to Herbert over text message, but had not heard back.
“I don’t know if he read it,” Lake said. “He probably says, ‘I don’t care about it anymore. I’m not trying to see this. It doesn’t matter. You said what you said.’ But at the same time I … felt like it was right for me to at least say, ‘Hey, man, I didn’t mean it in any disrespectful way.'”
Come on, Justin: He meant you were throwing deli meat in the most respectful way imaginable!“
Rams listed Matthew Stafford with elbow injury because reporters asked about ice on it (sports.yahoo)
“Really, it’s because you guys asked me about it earlier in the week,” McVay told reporters on Friday regarding the decision to disclose an elbow injury for Stafford. “It’s more semantical than anything else. It’s normal, like what he told you guys, but because you guys asked me about him having ice on his elbow. . . . He’s been full, hasn’t missed any sort of reps so normal management stuff that he’s been doing over the last few years.”
It conjures memories of the Patriots’ one-time habit of listing former quarterback Tom Brady as “probable” with a “right shoulder” injury. That all started because he had ice on his shoulder in the locker room, reporters inquired, and the team decided to just put him on the injury report every week.“
Los Angeles Rams Announce Bad News About Former Top Draft Pick (heavy.com)
“Grant Stuard will be limited with his hamstring. He’ll be questionable for the game. Jordan Whittington will be limited with his back. He’ll be questionable for the game. We’ll end up putting Jaylen Watson on IR, but he’s listed as out on this injury report. Joe Cardona will be doubtful. Trent McDuffie, Colby Parkinson, and Kam Curl, they’ll be listed as questionable for the game. Trent will be a DNP. Everybody else has no injury designation.”
Rams & Commanders set for a crucial NFC showdown in Week 9 | Game Preview (therams.com)
“Key contributors continue to peel off to the injured list, sapping what should be some nice momentum for the Rams.
When you think back to how this roster was constructed, it’s deflating to come to grips with the fact that we’ll see zero snaps of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Myles Garrett, and Aaron Donald playing football together in 2026.
“I think you’ll miss the production, the toughness, some of the different things that we’re able to do with him,” Sean McVay remarked this week as Watson accepted season-ending surgery on his twice-injured shoulder. “A couple of weeks ago, he’s cramping at the Raiders game and he says when he’s getting an IV, ‘Give me half a bag. I need to get back out there.’ He’s been awesome. He’s been playing through some different stuff, but he’s been really productive, and it’s unfortunate that that happened.”
