Aaron Donald is undergoing an NFL-level training program as he considers ending his retirement, but Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said no decision has been made.

McVay provided an update Saturday as Rams players reported for training camp, explaining that Donald is following a demanding and carefully structured routine similar to the one he used during his playing career.

The process is intended to show the 35-year-old whether his body can withstand the physical demands of another season after two years away from the game.

McVay said he genuinely does not know which direction Donald will choose. The Rams, however, are prepared to explore a reunion if the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year decides he is ready.

“If he feels good, then you guys know he’s going to be ready to rock,” McVay said.

Donald retired in March 2024 after spending all 10 of his NFL seasons with the Rams. He recorded 111 sacks, earned eight first-team All-Pro selections and was named to the Pro Bowl in every season of his career.

The possibility of a comeback emerged after Los Angeles began considering a trade for star pass rusher Myles Garrett. McVay contacted Donald for his opinion of Garrett, and the conversation eventually shifted toward whether Donald might be interested in playing alongside him.

The Rams acquired Garrett in June, adding the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to a defense that now could become even more imposing if Donald returns.

“But this is his decision,” McVay said. “He’s earned the right to be able to do it on his terms. And that’s why I think you guys are seeing us take this approach. But I did not ever really think this would be something, but I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m not excited about the possibility of it.”

Donald last played during the 2023 season, finishing with eight sacks and 53 tackles while earning another first-team All-Pro selection.

McVay initially thought Donald was done for good, as the defensive tackle said he felt fulfilled after retirement. However, his stance has shifted enough for Donald to consider testing himself physically again, though McVay made clear that walking away once more would be fully respected.

“He doesn’t owe us anything,” McVay said.

–Field Level Media

CJ Abrams had three hits including a home run, Foster Griffin pitched into the seventh inning and the Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Saturday in Washington.

Abrams tied the game with a two-run double in the third and hit his 25th home run in the fifth, giving him a major-league-leading 79 RBIs. He also singled and stole his 17th base.

Griffin (12-2), a free agent at the end of the season, may have been making his final start for Washington with the trade deadline approaching. Griffin, who struck out two and walked one, allowed three runs on six hits after giving up one or zero earned runs in eight straight starts.

Clayton Beeter pitched 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save.

Gabriel Moreno had a two-run single for Arizona, which had won four straight, and Tim Tawa had two hits and a run.

Rookie Mitch Bratt (0-1) gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings in his fourth start. He struck out three and walked five.

An error by second baseman Ketel Marte gave the Nationals runners on first and second with one out in the second, but Bratt retired Nasim Nunez and Keibert Ruiz.

The D-backs struck for two runs in the third. Ryan Waldschmidt led off with a single and Corbin Carroll was hit by a pitch. Geraldo Perdomo bunted the runners over and Moreno followed with a two-run single.

Washington answered with a four-run rally in the bottom half. Curtis Mead walked with one out and Andres Chaparro doubled him to third. Abrams lined a double to center and the game was tied. After Abrams was out trying to steal third, Dylan Crews walked. Jacob Young singled and Daylen Lile tripled into the right field corner and the Nationals led 4-2.

Abrams made it 5-2 when he homered to right-center leading off the fifth.

In the seventh, Tawa doubled with two outs and scored on a single by James McCann. Eddy Yean came on and retired pinch hitter Max Kepler to end the inning.

–Field Level Media

Dylan Cease threw a one-hitter and George Springer hit a three-run home run as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0 Saturday.

The teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday. Boston is 11-2 in its last 13 games against the American League East and has won 16 of its last 18.

Cease (7-5), who took a no-hitter into the ninth against the San Francisco Giants on July 8, only allowed four Red Sox hitters to reach base.

He was perfect until walking Caleb Durbin with two outs in the fifth and didn’t allow a hit through five innings.

The complete game was the first for Toronto this season and the 12th in the majors. Seven of the complete games have been shutouts.

It was Cease’s fourth career complete game and his fourth career shutout. The right-hander walked three and struck out 12 on a career-high 120 pitches.

Boston starter Sonny Gray (12-2) gave up five runs on 10 hits in five innings. The right-hander didn’t walk anyone and struck out three on 75 pitches.

The Blue Jays took control in the third when they used six straight hits to score five runs with two outs.

Nathan Lukes started the rally with a double into the left-field corner and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a single to left.

Kazuma Okamoto kept it going by singling off the glove of third baseman Durbin and Springer made the Red Sox pay by homering just over the Green Monster in left to make it 4-0.

Varsho continued the inning with a single to center and he scored when Ernie Clement doubled off the base of the left-field wall to go up 5-0.

Gray had been 10-0 since coming off the injured list in mid-May. This was his worst outing since giving up five earned runs in four innings in a 6-0 loss to Minnesota on April 14.

Cease, pitching on the second anniversary of his no-hitter for the Padres, didn’t give up a hit until Andruw Monasterio doubled to lead off the sixth.

Monasterio did not advance, however, as Cease induced Connor Wong to ground out, struck out Anthony Seigler and retired Ceddanne Rafaela with a pop out to shallow center.

–Field Level Media