McVay: Donald has 'earned that right' to decide on 2026 at his own pace

The Rams are giving Aaron Donald room to breathe while he sorts out his future, and Sean McVay is fine with that.

McVay told reporters Saturday that the team has identified target dates it would like Donald to hit, but the head coach stressed he does not want to create any "unnecessary pressure" on the defensive tackle if unforeseen circumstances arise, per Pro Football Talk.

"I feel great about our football team as it currently stands, and I know he'll add value if he decides to come," McVay said. "And so if he's put himself in a position to be able to say yes or no I think he's earned that right to have clarity on that. We're not at that point quite yet."

Donald has yet to commit to playing in 2026, leaving Los Angeles in a holding pattern as the regular season approaches. The Rams open their exhibition slate with Donald still absent, but McVay believes the star defender can rejoin the team and be ready for Week 1 if he ultimately decides to return.

Pressed on whether he has a preferred timeline, McVay said he is "hopeful that it will be sooner than later," while also making clear he will respect Donald's process.

"I don't want to say too much or put some sort of invisible deadline on something that doesn't exist in my mind for him," McVay said.

The only hard date on the books, as the club has acknowledged previously, is the Tuesday after Week 13 — the point at which a decision becomes unavoidable. Until then, the Rams appear content to let one of the best defensive players of his generation decide when he is ready to be the Aaron Donald everyone expects to see.