As of Friday morning, it remained unclear if Los Angeles Rams defensive superstar Aaron Donald will make his official in-game return during the upcoming “Monday Night Football” home game versus the 1-0 New York Giants.
Meanwhile, second-year Giants running back Cam Skattebo quickly developed a reputation as a pro for his battering-ram style and for his willingness to embrace contact with would-be tacklers. While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Skattebo was asked about possibly having an interaction with Donald during a play.
Cam Skattebo ready to meet Aaron Donald “in the hole”
“He’s had a couple years off, and I’m sure he’s ready to go and excited to play,” Skattebo said about Donald, per the Giants’ website. “But he’s still got to play football. He hasn’t practiced a ton. He hasn’t played in a game yet or played a ton. So, I mean, if it is his first game, then he’s got to be ready for it just like we do. So, I’m excited to play against him. He’s one of the best to ever do it. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a good challenge for the guys up front. It’s going to be a good challenge. If I have to meet him in the hole on third-and-one, then so be it. I’ve got to get one yard. But he’s a good player. He’s one of the best to ever do it. So, all respect to him.”
Donald hasn’t played a competitive down of NFL football since he retired in March 2024. While the Giants are preparing as if Donald will take the field this coming Monday, the 35-year-old’s status for the game remained up in the air as of Friday morning.
As for Skattebo, he led the Giants with 81 yards rushing in their gritty 28-20 Week 1 win over the rival Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.
Cam Skattebo addresses playing against “angry” Rams
The perception exists that the Rams will be “angry” coming off their 27-7 loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 10. Skattebo suggested too much is being made about that aspect of the prime-time contest.
“I don’t think it’s like they’re angry and we’re not,” Skattebo added about the Rams. “You don’t have a bad day because someone else is having a bad day. You’re not going to be angry because someone else is angry. If they want to be angry, they want to be angry. I mean, I doubt they’re angry, but they had a rough situation, and so be it. They’re ready to play next week, just like we are. I’m ready to go. I’m excited to play against them and see what they have. And it’s going to be a fun one.”
Many members of the NFL community believe the Giants won’t have too much “fun” at SoFi Stadium. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Big Blue as a seven-point road underdog against the Rams.