Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott On Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald: 'Player Of A Generation!'
For nearly a decade now, Aaron Donald has been the face of not just the Los Angeles Rams, but defensive players league-wide.
Since his debut in 2014, Donald has been terrorizing offenses at every turn. The former first-round pick out of Pittsburgh has more than 100 career sacks, nine Pro Bowl selections in as many seasons and three Defensive Player of the Year awards. When all is said and done, Donald may go down as the greatest defensive player in NFL history, if he isn't already.
Despite all his accomplishments, some have begun questioning whether Donald, 32, is still among the game's elite. He is coming off the worst statistical season of his career, and he missed extended time with injury for the first time.
To the Dallas Cowboys, the Rams' opponent this week, Donald is still a terrifying sight for their offense.
Donald chases down Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush during last year's game.
© Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
“Yeah he is. I gotta play him this week, of course he is," Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. "He’s a talent. He’s still the focus…A player of a generation. Having played against him now for a while, he can ruin a game, so you’ve got to give him focus.”
Cowboys offensive guard Zack Martin, another All-Pro from the 2014 draft class like Donald, heaped even more praise on the future Hall of Fame defender. Martin has played against Donald many times at both the collegiate and professional levels, so he knows as well as anyone how much of a problem Donald is.
"He can do everything," Martin said. "When you turn the tape on, he's a game-wrecker. You see it in a lot of different ways. He's not a huge guy, but he's got a lot of explosiveness and power. He's got pretty much every move in the book. He's somebody that on every play, you have to be aware of where No. 99 is at."
In five career games against the Cowboys, Donald has three sacks while his Rams have a 2-3 record. He'll be looking to improve both stats when the two teams face off in Dallas on Sunday.
