Aaron Donald expects to return for Rams vs. Bills after back injury, indicating possible defensive boost

Los Angeles will enter its game against Buffalo with a key question answered, at least for now. Aaron Donald, who missed the Rams’ most recent win over the Philadelphia Eagles because of a back injury, expects to return on Sunday against the Bills and said he feels great.

According to the report, Donald has not played in two games this season. The Rams’ victory over the Eagles last Sunday came without their centerpiece defensive tackle, raising the stakes for how quickly he can re-integrate after time off.

Donald’s anticipated return matters because his role is rarely replaceable at the NFL level. As a defensive tackle, he anchors the middle of the Rams’ front, turning double-teams into opportunities for teammates and shaping how opponents can run or pass by pressuring the pocket from the interior.

The Rams’ week-to-week defensive rhythm also changes when Donald is out. Even when a team can function, opponents often adjust their protection and blocking schemes differently against an elite interior presence than they do against a lineup missing it for multiple weeks.

The report frames Donald’s expected comeback as a potential “breakout” moment, not only because of the opponent, but because two missed games can create both rust and opportunity. If he is fully available, the Rams can lean on a dominant baseline skill set: leverage, hand-fighting, and disruption in tight spaces that tends to show up in pass rush and run defense.

Still, the plan is not final until the regular in-game confirmations. With injuries, especially those affecting the lower back, teams sometimes limit snaps or monitor workload closely, so the most practical thing to watch is how Donald looks early and whether his involvement holds steady throughout the game.

For Buffalo, the matchup becomes a test of how their offensive line handles a Rams defense that, with Donald on the field, can more effectively compress the pocket and attack the gaps that run concepts and quick passing windows rely on.