Aaron Donald is five games into his return with the Los Angeles Rams and surprisingly, he has yet to record a sack. He appeared to nab his first against the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago, but it was called back by a penalty on Trent McDuffie.
Even though he doesn’t have a sack, he’s still having a major impact on the game – more so now with Kobie Turner and Poona Ford on injured reserve.
Donald was asked on Thursday whether it bothers him that he doesn’t have a sack yet, and his answer was perfect. He didn’t come back to pad his career stats. He came back to win games and hopefully a Super Bowl.
“No. I didn't come back for individual stats. I would love to have some stats, but I'm here to just play the game,” he said. “When the plays present themselves,
take advantage of it, try to get my plays, but my main focus is trying to find ways to help this team win. That's the goal.”
Donald has won every award and received every honor a defensive player possibly can, outside of taking home NFL MVP – an award that will probably never go to a defender in today’s league. He’s a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, a 10-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro and was the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Stats and accolades don’t excite him anymore. The only thing he gets excited about is winning.
“I didn't come back to try to earn individual accolades or anything,” he said. “I did that, accomplished that. It doesn't excite me. The only thing that excites me is winning so I’m just playing a football game, trying to do what I can to help this team. As long as we win, I can build off everything else and get myself better off that.”
The Rams haven’t done much winning since his return, going 3-4 in their seven games this season. They’re just 2-3 in the five games he’s played, beating the Giants and Raiders.
Donald and the Rams will now take on the Chargers this Sunday in search of their fourth win, hoping to get to 4-4 on the year.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Aaron Donald doesn't care about stats: 'Only thing that excites me is winning'
