One of the most unsurprising moves of the 2026 offseason was the fact that Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald came out of retirement and returned to the Los Angeles Rams, a franchise where he saw so much success throughout his career.
Now, the Denver Broncos will face Donald and Co. on Sunday Night Football at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 3. Donald sat out Week 1, but came back in Week 2 with three total tackles and one tackle for loss in the Rams' win over the New York Giants.
Broncos coach Sean Payton saw a lot of Donald throughout his career when he was with the New Orleans Saints, and it's no surprise Payton begrudgingly admired him.
"He’s one of those guys that obviously, he’s in great shape," Payton said on Wednesday. "To be able to do
that and play at a position inside where that’s not easy… (I) certainly tracked him his whole career, and he’s something else.”
For quarterback Bo Nix, it is his first time facing Donald. Nix spoke about Donald coming out of retirement in the offseason, and what it means to be across the line of scrimmage from him.
"For a guy like that who’s played so much football at a dominant level, if anything, he could be better because he’s got some good rest," Nix said after practice on Wednesday. "It’s exciting to play the greats, it always is. I know he’s a really good football player, and he’s going to provide a challenge that we haven’t necessarily faced before. He’s literally one of the best at his position of all time, so you don’t play those many Sundays. He’s going to be a good player, he’s going to play more and more as the season goes with rep count."
🗣️Bo Nix on Aaron Donald coming out of retirement:
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) September 23, 2026
"He could be better because he got some good rest. It's exciting to play the greats...he's literally one of the best at his position of all time." #broncoscountry https://t.co/p8I3eVhDeE pic.twitter.com/yvuxM9TwYO
For Nix, Donald will have a lot of attention his way, especially with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett on injured reserve after playing just one game in a Rams uniform thus far. Donald's dominance is evident, having 111 sacks and 24 forced fumbles in his career. Nix knows that the Broncos will have to not only take care of the football, but always keep an eye on No. 99.
"I’m sure he’s just getting back in the swing of things, but (he's been) a dominant player for a long time," Nix said. "So I honestly don’t expect anything different, we just have to limit the time he’s dominant.”
By limiting Donald, the Broncos could have a bigger chance of success against the Rams. We'll just have to wait and see what their plan is to limit the former All-Pro.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Bo Nix says Broncos ‘have to limit’ Aaron Donald’s dominance on ‘SNF’
