Report: Rams RB Todd Gurley has quadriceps issue, 'up in the air' for Sunday

[Riverumbbq]

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

By Sam Robinson | Last updated 10/10/19


Rams running back Todd Gurley has made it through five games without a knee-related absence this season, which could be considered a victory based on the suspicion surrounding Gurley during the offseason.
But the two-time first-team All-Pro has encountered a quadriceps issue and is “up in the air” for Week 6, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Rams initially viewed this as a minor injury but it appears Gurley is not a lock to suit up against the 49ers on Sunday after missing practice Wednesday.
The fifth-year running back has been productive but a cut off his All-Pro form this season. He has yet to post a 100-yard rushing game and, with 338 scrimmage yards, is well off the pace of his past two seasons.
It would not surprise if the Rams exercised caution here and turned their Week 6 workload over to Malcolm Brown.
Here is the latest from the NFC West:

• The knee and quad injuries Dee Ford sustained early this season have limited his workload. The Niners defensive end has played just 33 snaps over the past two games and has been limited in practice. The 49ers holding Ford out of Wednesday and Thursday practices throughout the season would not be a surprise, reports Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Ford still rates as a top-20 edge defender, per Pro Football Focus, but has played just 97 snaps this season.
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• After injury trouble and role changes, Niners defensive end Arik Armsteadentered this season with an uncertain future. But his first four games of a contract year have helped change his status, and GM John Lynch says the fifth-year pro will be a sought-after commodity if he reaches the 2020 open market. “What Arik needs to do is keep on playing at that level and he’s going to make his life really easy because a lot of people are going to be coveting him, along with us,” Lynch said, via NBC Sports Bay Area. The 2015 first-round pick arrived during coach Jim Tomsula‘s one-year stay and missed 18 games between the 2016-17 seasons. But Armstead bounced back to play 18 games in 2018 and grades as PFF’s No. 14 edge defender through four games this season. The 49ers have DeForest Buckner extension talks on tap for 2020; they may have to consider the franchise tag for Armstead.
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• An unorthodox Trent Williams destination: The Los Angeles Rams. While other teams have much bigger offensive line needs, Sean McVay coached Williams in Washington. The Redskins also moved the longtime left tackle to guard for a 2018 game. That would be where Williams would play if the Rams traded for him, with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein entrenched at tackle. The Rams remain confident in left guard Joseph Noteboom, but Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic notes (subscription required) the team desires immediate improvement up front. PFF grades Noteboom as its fifth-worst full-time guard.

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[RamsFanCK]

Jeezuz christ this is the never ending story.

Fingers crossed he’ll be ready. Praying to the football gods!

 

[Ram65]

PFF grades Noteboom as its fifth-worst full-time guard.

Ouch!!

 

[Ram65]

But the two-time first-team All-Pro has encountered a quadriceps issue and is “up in the air” for Week 6, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Rams initially viewed this as a minor injury but it appears Gurley is not a lock to suit up against the 49ers on Sunday after missing practice Wednesday.

Geez...he better be ready. Hope they are just messing with the Whiners.

 

[Loyal]

Looks like it's the Malcom Brown show Sunday. I want see what he can do getting 25 carries, while putting the Gurley drama to bed for a week at least.

 

[Zodi]

Looks like it's the Malcom Brown show Sunday. I want see what he can do getting 25 carries, while putting the Gurley drama to bed for a week at least.

You'll think there will be less drama if Gurley's backup gets 25 carries in his first start?!

 

[RamsFanCK]

Looks like it's the Malcom Brown show Sunday. I want see what he can do getting 25 carries, while putting the Gurley drama to bed for a week at least.

Gurley drama gonna be through the roof if he misses this game man.

 

[Loyal]

You'll think there will be less drama if Gurley's backup gets 25 carries in his first start?!

Let me put it this way, I want a dominate run game no matter how and no matter who. I am just fine not listening to the media right now. It's really peaceful, right @RamsFanCK ?

 

[BriansRams]

It's fine for this week. I really really really want to see what Henderson can do once he's given a couple holes to run through. The guy can take it all the way the SAME way TG can.

 

[RamsFanCK]

Let me put it this way, I want a dominate run game no matter how and no matter who. I am just fine not listening to the media right now. It's really peaceful, right @RamsFanCK ?

Oh yeah man, it’s super peaceful. I practically only listen to Rams Talk Radio and a couple other podcasts.

The only time it isn’t peaceful is when my co workers ask me whats up with Gurley.... it’s getting so old.

 

[BriansRams]

The only time it isn’t peaceful is when my co workers ask me whats up with Gurley.... it’s getting so old.

Well. What do you tell them?

 

[RamsFanCK]

Well. What do you tell them?

That Gurley’s fine, just because he isn't racking points up in their fantasy league doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong at all. Gurley’s pass pro has been phenomenal this year. There’s been a number of times he saved Goff from getting destroyed by one of our new interior linemen’s assignments. The same interior linemen that have yet to really “gel” and give Gurley the room to work. Then there’s this 6-1 defense that our bread and butter outside zone isn’t effective against and the offense as a whole is in a state of evolution.

To be honest they’ve been relatively quite this week, Gurley played well on Thursday and they all saw it.

 

[BriansRams]

That Gurley’s fine, just because he isn't racking points up in their fantasy league doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong at all. Gurley’s pass pro has been phenomenal this year. There’s been a number of times he saved Goff from getting destroyed by one of our new interior linemen’s assignments. The same interior linemen that have yet to really “gel” and give Gurley the room to work. Then there’s this 6-1 defense that our bread and butter outside zone isn’t effective against and the offense as a whole is in a state of evolution.

To be honest they’ve been relatively quite this week, Gurley played well on Thursday and they all saw it.

I appreciate your explanation, thanks. But to me. He's not healthy either physically or mentally. He seems bored and disinterested when he runs and when he's on the sidelines. Something is wrong.

 

[RamsFanCK]

I appreciate your explanation, thanks. But to me. He's not healthy either physically or mentally. He seems bored and disinterested when he runs and when he's on the sidelines. Something is wrong.

I won’t argue that his body language was pitiful to start the season. It’s been improving game by game though. He ran angry last week, something I had been waiting for. He ran into the teeth of the hawks front a lot as well and kept pounding. My biggest concern is his hands, he has had butter fingers this year. If something is up with his health it’s not his knees. That man has been taking on defensive lineman and LBs coming downhill at him. Thats a lot of force on a “bum” knee.

It’s concerning that its still an enigma after 8 months though, Im certainly with you there.

 

[Zaphod]

Let me put it this way, I want a dominate run game no matter how and no matter who. I am just fine not listening to the media right now. It's really peaceful, right @RamsFanCK ?

I just don’t think teams are going to stop prioritizing our rushing attack until our pass is bleeding them out. It just seems to be the strategy that consistently gives them the best chance against McVay right now.

 

[Merlin]

Looks like it's the Malcom Brown show Sunday. I want see what he can do getting 25 carries, while putting the Gurley drama to bed for a week at least.

I respect Brown's ability to grind out tough runs. But if he gets 25 carries things gonna look pedestrian as F. I'd prefer to just sit Gurley and split carries 50/50 between him and Henderson. The kid probably won't have a big game his first one out where he gets big snaps but if he does get a good seam or two his line will look pretty good.

 

[Loyal]

I respect Brown's ability to grind out tough runs. But if he gets 25 carries things gonna look pedestrian as F. I'd prefer to just sit Gurley and split carries 50/50 between him and Henderson. The kid probably won't have a big game his first one out where he gets big snaps but if he does get a good seam or two his line will look pretty good.

*shrugs..How do you know? Brown seems to have wiggle and escapability and runs hard. Has he run for 25 times of which I'm not aware?

 

[Merlin]

*shrugs..How do you know? Brown seems to have wiggle and escapability and runs hard. Has he run for 25 times of which I'm not aware?

I don't know for sure. But IMO 25 runs for him is 25 snaps where a defense can relax a little. I like him just hope we see more thunder & lightning vice just the thunder.

 

[Ramstien]

But to me. He's not healthy either physically or mentally. He seems bored and disinterested when he runs and when he's on the sidelines. Something is wrong.

He seems disinterested when he runs, what the hell does that even mean? Gurley does his job and does not show a lot of emotion. He is more than likely upset because they are giving up on the running game too soon and when he does get the ball there are no running lanes. Oh don't let me forget, they seem to be trying to play catch up lately due to poor defensive play. McVay needs to get creative and find ways to get Gurley more involved.

 

[PhillyRam]

Personally I would rather see Gurley transition to the role of pass catching 3rd down back out of the backfield.

Can still make a big impact there while limiting the pounding. Its a natural progression if he is to have a long career.

I can guarantee that guys like Kamara & McCaffery will follow that path. Right now they do it all just as Gurley was in his first 4 years, but that can't last.

And those type guys can still make big impacts in their later 20's even if they only get 12-15 touches a game.