Despite his desire for a new contract, Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald made a cursory appearance earlier this month at the Rams' mandatory veteran minicamp.

Donald, though, won't guarantee an on-time arrival for training camp if a new deal is not consummated.

"I’m just working, just grinding and we’ll see what happens,” Donald told co-host Mark Dominik and me Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

When asked whether he was optimistic that a contract extension could be reached before camp, Donald's response was similar.

"I’m just letting my agents handle that," Donald said. "All I can do is keep working to keep myself in top shape."

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Donald is set to earn $8.7 million for the remaining two years of the rookie contract he signed in 2014. But after three seasons establishing himself as arguably the NFL’s best defensive tackle, Donald is seeking a pay raise in the first year he is allowed to sign a renegotiated rookie contract based upon rules of the NFL’s labor agreement.

Donald wasn’t a full-time participant in the Rams’ voluntary offseason workout programs because of his contract situation. Although he only did conditioning drills during the mandatory veteran minicamp, Donald avoided a fine of $80,405 that could have gotten levied had he failed to report.

Donald, who turned 26 in May, said he has altered his own offseason conditioning program this year working with different trainers.

"Instead of just throwing the bar with heavy weight in the weight-room, I'm trying to work on my flexibility and things like that to help me long-term with my speed and explosiveness," Donald said. “I’m trying to fine-tune little things I didn’t do in prior years just to get a little bit better."

It's hard to get much better results than what Donald has generated with the Rams. He leads all NFL interior linemen in sacks (28) and tackles for loss (57) over the past three seasons.

Such success is one reason Donald’s role probably won’t change too much even with new coordinator Wade Phillips shifting the Rams from a 4-3 to a 3-4 scheme.

"I’m going to be a three-tech and stay at defensive tackle," Donald said. “In certain situations, we’re going to see what happens. We might be moving around. But with a good defensive coordinator like (Phillips), he's definitely going to put guys in position to be successful to help the team try to win games. That’s what it’s about."

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Donald is doing his part, as he's motivated by more than just the thought of a massive payday.

"It’s never being comfortable where you’re at and having that mindset that you’re starting fresh and new (each season)," Donald said. “You’ve got to make a name for yourself all over again."

The big questions now are whether Donald will be signing his name on a new contract before camp begins and what will happen if he doesn't.

Alex Marvez can be heard from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET Friday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.