Aaron Donald Returns: 30 Snaps of Terror for the Giants
Mike Garafolo reported: 'Look for about 30 snaps for him in his return to action'
Aaron Donald is back tonight, and the NFL just got significantly more terrifying for opposing quarterbacks.
Mike Garafolo reported that the legendary defensive tackle is officially suiting up for the on Monday Night Football against the . The only catch is that the team is keeping him on a strict pitch count of about 30 snaps for his season debut.
Thirty snaps of Aaron Donald sounds like a relief until you realize that is exactly enough time to ruin a game plan. For context, 30 snaps is roughly half a game for a starting defensive lineman, but it is also 30 distinct opportunities for a 280-pound wrecking ball to fold a center in half.
If you are looking at player props or DFS lineups, that snap limit is the ultimate trap. You have to decide if a part-time Donald can still rack up a full-time stat line. Given that he sat out Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers as part of his return-from-retirement ramp-up, he is coming into this matchup with completely fresh legs.
The Rams defense desperately needs his gravity back on the field. Even when he is just standing there catching his breath, Donald demands double teams that free up the rest of the defensive front. The Giants offensive line now has to spend the entire night nervously guessing when number 99 is going to tap in and blow up their drive.
We will see exactly how much gas is left in the tank tonight. If those 30 snaps look anything like his prime, the rest of the NFC West is going to have a very long season trying to block him.