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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 27: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Bills Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
The numbers from Aaron Donald’s first two NFL games have been pretty quiet.
Donald has not recorded a sack since returning to the Los Angeles Rams after a two-year retirement. He has four combined tackles, including one solo tackle, through two appearances, according to his official NFL game log.
However, ahead of the Rams’ Week 5 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen issued a clear message about how much attention Donald is paying.
“You have to be aware of him at all times,” Allen said, per Alex Brasky of Bills Digest. “At any point he could turn it on.”
That review comes as Donald is working his way back from a back injury that kept him out of Los Angeles’ Week 4 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Allen Isn’t Buying Donald’s Quiet Stat Line
Donald’s production hasn’t been the same as the overwhelming numbers that helped him become a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but the 35-year-old has also had an unusual start to his comeback.
The Rams held Donald in their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers as they continued to ramp him up following his return in late August.
He made his season debut against the New York Giants on September 21, playing 32 defensive snaps and recording three tackles, including one tackle for loss.
Donald added another tackle and a quarterback hit against the Denver Broncos a week later before a back issue sidelined him against Philadelphia.
His underlying pass-rush work looks solid, however, and not as much as zero in sack range. PFF awarded Donald three pressures in his first two appearances and gave him a 74.8 pass-rush grade through September 29.
Allen’s comments also illustrate the problem Donald can have without filling out a box score. An offense considered No. 99 per snap can change protection schemes and potentially create openings for the Rams’ other pass rushers.
Donald enters 2026 with 111 career sacks, eight first-team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl nods. The Rams brought him out of retirement on a one-year, $20 million contract that could reach $30 million with incentives.
Rams Trending Toward Return of Donald vs. Bills
The lingering question is whether Allen will actually face Donald on Monday night.
The signs are moving in the right direction.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said on Oct. 5 that the team’s “hope” is that Donald will return against Buffalo and added, “That’s the direction it seems to be trending.” The Rams’ official website also reported optimism surrounding his availability.
Donald was then expected to be a limited participant in practice on Oct. 8 as Los Angeles continues to manage his back injury.
His potential return will come at the right time.
Allen remains one of the NFL’s toughest quarterbacks to stop because of his ability to extend plays and punish defenses with his legs.
The Rams themselves cited rush-lane integrity as a big-time factor in the matchup after Allen accounted for six total touchdowns the last time these teams met, a 44-42 win in Los Angeles in December 2024.
Assuming Donald gets the green light, Allen seems ready to treat him like the game-wrecker he once retired — regardless of what his 2026 sack total says.
Duncan’s day is a sports contributor for Heavy. He has covered the NFL, NBA, hockey and soccer for various outlets, including NBC Sports, Boston.com, USA TODAY, Forbes, Bleacher Report, The Dallas Morning News and more. More about Duncan Day