Todd Gurley and his knee have been the hot topic of the offseason, not only concering his upcoming season with the Los Angeles Rams, but with the contract negotiations of his fellow NFL running backs, specifically Los Angles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon and Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys.
How healthy is Gurley? Did the slow down that affected him late last season due to knee issues carry over? His quarterback, Jared Goff, thinks the questions have crossed a line.
“Todd is Todd, he doesn’t need to become anything,” Goff said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him and more in the past few years. I think there’s a narrative around him right now that’s pretty unfair.”
.@RamsNFL QB Jared Goff tells us he has no concerns about Todd Gurley returning to top form in 2019…
"I think there's a narrative around him right now that's pretty unfair" #RamsCamp pic.twitter.com/TSMgPphpXW
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 31, 2019
Of course, Gurley will be up on blocks and under a tarp all through the preseason, along with Goff and the rest of the Rams stars, so these questions will persist until the running back shows up in Week 1 of the regular season and blows everyone’s doors off. Or not.
Panthers have a plan for Christian McCaffrey
This could very well be based on Gurley’s late-season woes as well. The Carolina Panthers have a new offensive plan to limit running back Christian McCaffrey’s snaps on the field, but not his touches. Last season McCaffrey played 995 snaps, the most of any RB in the league.
“The goal is to cut down on his plays, but we’re not gonna take away his touches,” head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday. “We want the ball in Christian’s hands. When he’s on the field, there’s no reason for him to be a decoy or be a swing guy. So why not figure out the best thing? And that’s what (offensive coordinator) Norv (Turner) wants to do.”
Christian McCaffrey led all players with 10 games in 2018 with at least 50 rushing yards and 5+ receptions. Another monster year ahead. https://t.co/ks65ofEmBa
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 31, 2019
In 2018 McCaffrey carried the ball 219 times for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 107 receptions for 867 yards and six touchdowns.
