Left knee initially bothered Rams' Todd Gurley after season opener

[OregonRamsFan]

• http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25627677/todd-gurley-los-angeles-rams-knee-first-issue-week-1
  
  
  Lindsey Thiry
  ESPN

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Ramscoach Sean McVay said Thursday that Todd Gurley's left knee hasn't just bothered the star running back recently.

Gurley's knee also was an issue after a season-opening victory over the Oakland Raiders, when Gurley rushed for 108 yards and caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

"It was a similar situation," McVay said.

Gurley said Thursday that he, "Felt like s---" after the Monday night game in Week 1.

"It was bad," Gurley said. "I was contemplating on giving the Rams back their money and everything. It was bad. It was real bad."

Before the season, the Rams awarded Gurley, the defending NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a four-year extension worth $60 million, with $45 million guaranteed, to make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

Despite the pain, Gurley felt in the aftermath of the opener, he said that his knee felt better two days later.

That hasn't been the case with his latest knee issue, which includes inflammation and soreness that has lingered since a Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Gurley was inactive last Sunday in a road win over the Arizona Cardinals, and his status is again in question for the regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at home. A victory over the 49ers would secure the Rams a first-round bye in the playoffs.

"Some days you wake up feeling pain," Gurley said. "Some days you wake up feeling much better."

Gurley was sidelined for a series in the third quarter before he returned to the field in a 30-23 loss to the Eagles. He said there was no single play that caused the discomfort in his knee.

"Came back on the sidelines and just you can tell when something doesn't feel right, you know your body," said Gurley, who has rushed for 1,251 yards this season. "Obviously, kind of went back in the game and played. Did what I could do and then just kind of dealt with the consequences the next day."

Gurley sat out of practice last week but participated in a pregame workout ahead of last Sunday's game in Arizona. After the workout, Gurley and the Rams' medical staff determined it was in his best interest to sit out.

"I could've played," said Gurley, who has scored a league-best 21 touchdowns. "But who knows how long I would've been able to play."

In his absence, the Rams started veteran C.J. Anderson, whom they had signed only five days earlier. Anderson rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown.

Gurley has not practiced this week, and it's uncertain if he will test his knee before pregame warmups Sunday.

"It's just one of those day-by-day things," Gurley said. "I'm just going to have to see when Sunday gets here."

 

[OregonRamsFan]

Now things seem to make sense. I hope Gurley rests against the 9ers. I am glad we picked up Anderson. We lucked out with him.

 

[Merlin]

Crappy. It's amazing what a different offense we have without Kupp & Gurley. Goes from being a high-flying aerial attack with 4 legit matchup problems teams struggle to slow down to a much more conventional look.

But yeah, we did luck out with Anderson. Hope TG gets that knee better, though. Even having him for 10-15 snaps will make a big difference come the playoffs, in terms of forcing teams to prep accordingly.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

Crappy. It's amazing what a different offense we have without Kupp & Gurley. Goes from being a high-flying aerial attack with 4 legit matchup problems teams struggle to slow down to a much more conventional look.

But yeah, we did luck out with Anderson. Hope TG gets that knee better, though. Even having him for 10-15 snaps will make a big difference come the playoffs, in terms of forcing teams to prep accordingly.

Agreed. I hope CJ has another great day and we get Gurley feeling good again. I am surprised Gurley played as good as he did considering his knee issue.

 

[Oregonram]

There is no question that Sean has shifted his emphasis to the pass because of the situation with Todd. Defenses started smelling the issue and Sean could no longer bluff the run enough to establish the play action.It was a great move to add CJ and reestablish the run threat to reopen the offense. Good job Rams!

 

[Flint]

Most of us were thinking that something was different, those 40-50-60 yard runs turned into 15-20. When TG went off against the hags last year he was just faster than everybody on defense and it wasn’t close, and even though he’s got 1200 yards while only probably playing 14 games, which ain’t nothing to sneeze at, seems like that take it to the house speed hasn’t been there.

 

[jrry32]

Let's give Todd as much time to rest up as possible. Rest him Sunday, beat the 49ers, and let C.J. run wild again.

 

[99Balloons]

If this is the same knee that TG had it operated on when he's in college at Georgia, then there will always be concerns about the durability because of it. A similar instance that happened to Cooper Kupp when he was held out for a game or so and came back reinjuring his knee with an ACL tear. Maybe it's best after the season is over, TG will have this knee either scoped or looked at for surgery so that he can come back faster and stronger instead of playing at 3/4 health?

 

[XXXIVwin]

Yeah, it sure sounds like he will have a scope in the offseason.

Hope they find something minor and correctable.

 

[Loyal]

This is worrisome news. Sooner or later he will have to run on that knee, if we want to win it all, and it doesn't sound like something that will heal itself without some sort invasive medical treatment. CJ Anderson might become saviour of the Rams season.

No pressure.

 

[TexasRam]

Sometimes these things are a blessing in disguise for the team.

Defenses won’t have a lot of film as to what type of plays Mcvay leans on with CJ on the field. Also, it forces Mcvay to change formations and plays up.

A lot more for a defense to digest when it has to consider whether it’s facing Gurley or CJ. Not to mention the different. running styles and tendencies of each back.

The Cardinals also brought a lot of 5 and 6 man blitzes and after the first blown assignment CJ was pretty solid picking up the blitz. Goff was also tremendous moving around vs the blitz.

 

[shovelpass]

Dude is a beast, hopefully he feels better once the playoffs start. I say rest him for the 49ers game.

"I was contemplating on giving the Rams back their money and everything. It was bad. It was real bad."

Wow, that's a team first statement.

 

[IBruce80]

Now it's officially put in the open, Gurley has played brilliantly with this lingering.
Hopefully we see him back on the field come playoffs.

 

[Farr Be It]

He said there was no single play that caused the discomfort in his knee.

I do. I remember seeing this play against the Eagles and cringing.

First quarter.

Gurley was running gingerly for a bit after this play. Shot to the left knee.

THIS was the play that has caused the inflammation.

 

[bubbaramfan]

I fear Gurley will need surgery after the playoffs.

 

[HitStick]

I’d surely like to see him rested. C.J. could gain valuable reps. Once we hit playoffs, a healthy rested Gurley and a C.J. at full speed could ignite this offense to a new level.

 

[Young Ram]

It’s no wonder why he hasn’t been hurdling people this year. Rest up Todd.

 

[BonifayRam]

Sad Fact......Life in the NFL for a heavy used RB is very short. Four NFL HD seasons & a past major reconstruction surgery on that left knee might be giving us a look into the near future of cronic issues around the bend for Gurley. McVay has used basically one RB the last 2 seasons. Rams will pay Gurley $26.5 million the next 2 seasons no matter if he can play or not.

McVay may need to consider another change on his desires on how he uses one of his favorite offensive players who is showing signs of loss of speed & some power from his previous seasons. I know if it were up to me I would get Malcolm Brown & CJ under contract for the 2019 season. RB Justin Davis is a walking fulltime injury.

 

[“Turbo set!”]

This is why teams shouldn't use 1st round picks and significant cap money on running backs.

Draft them in the 2nd-4th rounds and replace them when they are hurt.

 

[FrantikRam]

Okay so this makes a lot of sense as to why we've focused on the pass more.

But why the **** did we not ******* run Malcolm Brown more often?? He's a BEAST and we should have given him more carries (obviously I know he got hurt, but that wasn't until later in the year).