'Sacks Come in Bunches': Aaron Donald, Still Hunting His First Since Unretiring, Gets a Rookie Quarterback and His Favorite Opponent Sunday

Aaron Donald has heard the question all fall, and on Thursday he gave it a short answer. Asked about his missing sacks, the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle said, "Sacks come in bunches," according to Yahoo Sports, citing ProFootballTalk ^[1]. Seven games into his comeback, the future Hall of Famer still has not recorded one ^[1].

Sunday may be his best chance yet. The Rams visit the Arizona Cardinals, and rookie quarterback Carson Beck will be making his first NFL start ^[2]. The Cardinals have allowed 23 sacks in nine games, Athlon Sports noted, citing ESPN figures ^[2]. And no opponent has suffered more at Donald's hands over the years: his 16.5 career sacks against Arizona are his most against any team, Yahoo Sports reported ^[4].

A Comeback Without the Numbers, So Far

Donald walked away from the game in 2024 and stayed away for more than two years before signing a one-year, $20 million deal with the Rams in August, according to Yahoo Sports ^[1]. The expectation, fair or not, was that one of the most dominant interior pass rushers in league history would pick up where he left off.

The box score has not cooperated. Athlon reported that Donald has 13 tackles and three tackles for loss but no sacks ^[2]. He came close in Week 5 against Buffalo, when he brought down Josh Allen, only to have the sack wiped out by an illegal contact penalty in the secondary, Athlon reported ^[3]. With Myles Garrett sidelined for much of the fall, Athlon also noted, opposing offenses were free to slide their protection toward Donald ^[3].

Donald has made clear the numbers are not why he came back. "I didn't come back for individual stats," he told reporters earlier this season, according to Athlon ^[3]. He has said he would like the stats but is focused on playing and helping the team win ^[3].

The Skeptics

Not everyone has been convinced. Former Giants great Michael Strahan publicly questioned why Donald came out of retirement during the Rams' rough early stretch, Yahoo Sports reported ^[5]. It is a fair question to ask of any veteran who returns, and Donald has not ducked it. His answer has been the same every week: show up, do the work and let the results follow.

A Revenge Game for a Battered Team

The Rams need all the help they can get. The New York Post described Sunday's trip as a revenge game for an injury-riddled team, with Sean McVay facing Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur while his offense is badly depleted ^[6]. With so many playmakers missing on offense, the defense will be asked to carry more of the load.

That is where Donald comes in. Facing a rookie quarterback in his first start, the Rams' plan is simple: make Beck uncomfortable, force quick possessions and turnovers, and get the ball back to Matthew Stafford, Athlon reported ^[2]. A defensive tackle who collapses the pocket from the inside, even without finishing the play, can make a young quarterback speed up his clock and throw before he is ready.

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Hayes' Take: Judge the Work, Not Just the Stat Line

I understand the frustration of fans who wanted vintage Donald from the first snap. Sacks are the stat that makes the highlight shows. But anyone who has watched line play knows a pass rusher's value runs deeper than one column in the box score. Pressures, double teams and run stops all matter, and they rarely make the evening news.

What I respect most is how Donald has handled it. In his public comments, he has kept the focus on the team, not himself. He has kept his head down and kept working, which is exactly what young players in that locker room need to see from a veteran who has already won a Super Bowl.

There is something old-fashioned in that approach, and I mean it as a compliment. You do the job the right way, and you trust that the results will come in time. Donald seems to believe that about his sacks.

Sunday, against a rookie quarterback and the opponent he has haunted more than any other, we may find out whether he is right. If the sacks really do come in bunches, Arizona would be a fitting place for the first one to land.