Rams' Aaron Donald Reacts to Return vs. Giants with Myles Garrett Injured, 'I'm Just One Guy'

Ahead of his return to the football field in Monday night's game against the New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald is downplaying expectations.

Per ESPN's Sarah Barshop, Donald acknowledged that star defensive end Myles Garrett's absence due to his knee injury could hinder his impact in his first NFL game since his retirement two years ago.

"We still have a lot of good players around us, around me at least, to be comfortable," Donald said. "I'm just one guy. I'm just one guy. There are a lot of good football players out there that have been here for the last two years when I wasn't even playing football, so we're going to be good, and when he gets back, we'll be even better."

Garrett is set to miss at least the next four games, but the Rams still have an impressive crop of pass-rushers to play alongside Donald like Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Josaiah Stewart. While Donald is one of the greatest defensive tackles ever to play in the NFL, he said he doesn't expect to draw too much attention in his first game back.

"You think they're going to double- or triple-team a guy after not playing for two years?" Donald said, per The Athletic's Nate Atkins. "They ain't worried about me, man."

It's been 981 days since Donald last played in an NFL game. Barshop noted that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is set to join Deion Sanders as "the only players in NFL history to be a five-time first-team All-Pro, have a 750-day layoff and return to the NFL."

Despite the two-year layoff, Donald is motivated to prove he's still got it when he meets the Giants at SoFi Stadium on Monday Night Football.

"I'm just taking it all in," Donald said. "This is a blessing to be out here playing this game. I still remember as a kid dreaming about and wishing to get to the NFL. As a guy that played 10 years, retired and got to come back and do it again, I'm taking this moment in, taking it all in, and just enjoying my blessing."