By Cedric Williams
Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft, was recently allowed to take the yellow beanie off his helmet which meant he was only permitted to participate in non-contact drills when the team practiced this preseason.
But even though the former University of Georgia standout has been progressing nicely through his recovery from torn ACL surgery last fall, head coach Jeff Fisher told the media that Gurley won’t play in Sunday’s season opener against the Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome.
The news came as no surprise, since Gurley hasn’t played in any game action since he suffered the injury last season.
But since the 6-foot-1, 227-pound rookie was being allowed to do more in practice this week, the hope was that maybe he might actually play on Sunday.
Fisher put to bed any of those thoughts when he met with the media, and made a short and sweet statement regarding Gurley’s status, following a recent workout at the Rams Park Training Facility in Earth City.
“Todd Gurley’s not going to play this week,” Fisher said.
Gurley has looked good in practice the last couple of weeks though, which prompted Fisher to speak about his club’s No. 1 draft pick following Tuesday’s workout.
“Yeah, he’s doing everything right now,” Fisher said. “He’s doing fine… He’s right on course right now. 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.’”
Second-year man Tre Mason is expected to start at running back for the Rams on Sunday, with Benny Cunningham, Isaiah Pead, and Chase Reynolds set to backup.
Mason, St. Louis’ third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, has been battling a sore hamstring, which kept him out of the club’s preseason finale last Thursday against Kansas City.
“Tre’s doing good,” Fisher said Saturday. “He had two treatment sessions today and he’s doing well. So we’ll see how he is during the week.”
If Mason is unable to go, Cunningham would likely start, with Pead serving as the primary backup.
Cunningham is a third-year pro, who was a healthy scratch in the preseason finale against Kansas City, but did rush for 246 yards and three touchdowns and caught 45 passes for 352 yards and another score last season.
He is also St. Louis’ primary kick returner, and he’s proven to be quite good at it as well, after averaging an NFC-best 27.5 yards per return last season.
Pead was the Rams’ second-round pick in 2012, but is recovering from ACL surgery, and missed the entire 2014 season because of it.
The former University of Cincinnati star did serve as St. Louis’ primary ball carrier in the game against the Chiefs, and looked pretty good, with 12 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown.
“Each week he’s getting better,” Fisher said, following the game. “He’s just getting better. He’s dropped the brace, which is a huge thing psychologically for him, and each week he’s getting better. Great effort on his behalf to get to this point.”
Cedric Williams, a lifelong St. Louisan and proud UMSL alum, has been a full-time reporter/photographer covering St. Louis area sports for nearly two decades. Most recently, he has been working as a credentialed beat writer covering the NFL, as well as college and high school sports for the St. Louis American, Patch.com, and other outlets from around the area. Please share any comments, questions, or feedback with Cedric at cedricwilliams510@gmail.com. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
