(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams went from Super Bowl contenders to bottom feeders in little-to-no time, but they hope that won’t last long.
They’re not among the oddsmakers’ favorites to go the distance this season, mostly due to the notable absences, injuries, and how poorly they fared last season.
That’s notable, granted that they will still have one of the greatest defensive forces of all time in Aaron Donald, who recently talked to ESPN about his determination to lead the team back to contention (via Around the NFL):
Aaron Donald, Rams have “something to prove” in 2023: “It’s a brand new year”https://t.co/LSCtKa91F8 pic.twitter.com/WyAqQF86B1
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) August 10, 2023
“We all need some type of fire, something to push you, something to get you going, and that’s something that I’m hanging on to right now,” he said. “And I feel like we’ve got something to prove as a team. I think I got something to prove as a player, and that’s how we’re going to take it.”
Donald still has two years left on his contract and, at 32 years old, could look to cash in on the last lucrative deal of his career and just ride into the sunset, but that’s not his mindset.
He’s coming off one of the least proficient seasons of his career.
It was the first time in which he didn’t finish in the top five in AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting, and that chip on his shoulder won’t go away any time soon.
It was also the first time he missed more than two games due to injuries, as he was forced to be sidelined with a high ankle sprain in the final stretch of the campaign.
Competitors like Donald won’t settle for anything less than greatness.
He knows it won’t be easy to take his team back to the mountaintop, especially with their current roster.
But the Rams have already been there and are well-coached, and a highly-motivated Aaron Donald might as well be the last person you want to come across on a football field.
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