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Rams notes: Gurley advances but still not ready to play
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_2bc72553-9baf-5f10-9091-3fe0c7844ef9.html
The yellow beanie is no more.
Worn on a player’s helmet to alert teammates that there is to be no contact during practice, the yellow beanie was worn early in Rams training camp by receiver Brian Quick, who was coming off a significant shoulder injury, and recently by running back Todd Gurley, a University of Georgia standout who suffered a season-ending knee injury that required ACL surgery on his left knee in November.
In spite of the injury, the Rams made Gurley the 10th overall pick in the draft and have brought him through the rehab process slowly.
But the full return to action for the 6-foot-1, 227-pound Gurley is getting closer. Early this week, he said. “I can do everything (on the practice field). The beanie is off, so I’m good.”
Tuesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed as much.
“Yeah, he’s doing everything right now, doing fine,” Fisher said. “I took it off. I personally took it off his helmet. Told him, “You’re done with that.’ He’s right on course.... He’s working hard and had some good runs here today. As a matter of fact, I asked around, ‘Where’d you guys find this guy?’ He looks pretty good out there.”
Over the weekend, Fisher said that Gurley, who did not play during the preseason, would not play on Sunday when the Rams open the season hosting the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
“I would definitely want to be playing but like I said I knew it was going to be a long journey,” Gurley, 21, said. “You’ve got to be patient, but when the time comes, it comes. I’ll be ready for it.”
HAGER EARNS A SPOT
A seventh-round draft pick from Baylor, linebacker Bryce Hager said his Saturday was pretty stressful. Then came THE call from the Rams. “It was a long day, definitely, but I really felt like I did all I could do,” Hager, 23, said. “From the start, my mindset was to just take it day by day and focus on doing whatever they asked me to do.”
A highly productive three-year starter in college, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Hager had similar results in the preseason with the Rams. He tied with rookie defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat for the team lead in tackles with 24, including a team-leading 19 solos, and also recovered two fumbles.
“The speed of the game, obviously, was an adjustment, but it’s so much more than that,” he said. “It’s the playbook and all the mental aspects of the game you have to learn. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie; you have to know what to do and to be able to do it at full speed.”
A middle linebacker in college, Hager is working at all three spots here. “For me, special teams are going to be huge,” he added.
Hager is the son of Britt Hager, a former NFL player who finished his nine-year career with the Rams in 1997 and who also played in Philadelphia in 1989-90 for then-Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher.
“My parents were pretty fired up,’’ he said. “I’m excited, but now’s when the real work begins. I know I have to keep working and learning and improving.’’
RAM-BLINGS
After taking part in the sixth annual Kickoff for Charity Luncheon that benefited the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Rams returned to Earth City for a short workout Tuesday.
“Took the whole team down there. It was a great event,” Fisher said. “Then we came back and had some meeting time and got some exercise.”
Running back Tre Mason (hamstring), linebacker Daren Bates (knee) and rookie Andrew Donnal (finger) did not participate. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who has been slowed with collarbone soreness, took part in individual drills.
Donnal, a fourth-round draft choice from Iowa, had minor surgery to clean out an infected finger joint and is expected to practice on Wednesday.
• Jimmie Hunt, a wide receiver from Cahokia High and Mizzou, was released with an injury settlement from the Green Bay Packers. The same happened with safety Matt Daniels and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Daniels was with the Rams in 2012 and 2013 and saw action in six games.
In other moves, former Illinois linebacker Justin Staples was signed to the practice squad in Tennessee while guard David Arkin (Missouri State) was released from Indianapolis’ practice squad.
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_2bc72553-9baf-5f10-9091-3fe0c7844ef9.html
The yellow beanie is no more.
Worn on a player’s helmet to alert teammates that there is to be no contact during practice, the yellow beanie was worn early in Rams training camp by receiver Brian Quick, who was coming off a significant shoulder injury, and recently by running back Todd Gurley, a University of Georgia standout who suffered a season-ending knee injury that required ACL surgery on his left knee in November.
In spite of the injury, the Rams made Gurley the 10th overall pick in the draft and have brought him through the rehab process slowly.
But the full return to action for the 6-foot-1, 227-pound Gurley is getting closer. Early this week, he said. “I can do everything (on the practice field). The beanie is off, so I’m good.”
Tuesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed as much.
“Yeah, he’s doing everything right now, doing fine,” Fisher said. “I took it off. I personally took it off his helmet. Told him, “You’re done with that.’ He’s right on course.... He’s working hard and had some good runs here today. As a matter of fact, I asked around, ‘Where’d you guys find this guy?’ He looks pretty good out there.”
Over the weekend, Fisher said that Gurley, who did not play during the preseason, would not play on Sunday when the Rams open the season hosting the two-time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
“I would definitely want to be playing but like I said I knew it was going to be a long journey,” Gurley, 21, said. “You’ve got to be patient, but when the time comes, it comes. I’ll be ready for it.”
HAGER EARNS A SPOT
A seventh-round draft pick from Baylor, linebacker Bryce Hager said his Saturday was pretty stressful. Then came THE call from the Rams. “It was a long day, definitely, but I really felt like I did all I could do,” Hager, 23, said. “From the start, my mindset was to just take it day by day and focus on doing whatever they asked me to do.”
A highly productive three-year starter in college, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Hager had similar results in the preseason with the Rams. He tied with rookie defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat for the team lead in tackles with 24, including a team-leading 19 solos, and also recovered two fumbles.
“The speed of the game, obviously, was an adjustment, but it’s so much more than that,” he said. “It’s the playbook and all the mental aspects of the game you have to learn. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie; you have to know what to do and to be able to do it at full speed.”
A middle linebacker in college, Hager is working at all three spots here. “For me, special teams are going to be huge,” he added.
Hager is the son of Britt Hager, a former NFL player who finished his nine-year career with the Rams in 1997 and who also played in Philadelphia in 1989-90 for then-Eagles defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher.
“My parents were pretty fired up,’’ he said. “I’m excited, but now’s when the real work begins. I know I have to keep working and learning and improving.’’
RAM-BLINGS
After taking part in the sixth annual Kickoff for Charity Luncheon that benefited the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Rams returned to Earth City for a short workout Tuesday.
“Took the whole team down there. It was a great event,” Fisher said. “Then we came back and had some meeting time and got some exercise.”
Running back Tre Mason (hamstring), linebacker Daren Bates (knee) and rookie Andrew Donnal (finger) did not participate. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who has been slowed with collarbone soreness, took part in individual drills.
Donnal, a fourth-round draft choice from Iowa, had minor surgery to clean out an infected finger joint and is expected to practice on Wednesday.
• Jimmie Hunt, a wide receiver from Cahokia High and Mizzou, was released with an injury settlement from the Green Bay Packers. The same happened with safety Matt Daniels and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Daniels was with the Rams in 2012 and 2013 and saw action in six games.
In other moves, former Illinois linebacker Justin Staples was signed to the practice squad in Tennessee while guard David Arkin (Missouri State) was released from Indianapolis’ practice squad.
