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Todd Gurley will not be at all limited in the Los Angeles Rams' regular-season opener. After a playoffs in which he was more afterthought than integral cog of his team's offense, the superstar running back opted against pouring fuel on the fire of speculation why during the offseason, instead keeping his head down to focus on 2019. With Week 1 finally here, Gurley and the Rams seem to be in a very good place, especially considering rampant rumors regarding his decreased usage on their run to the Super Bowl.
But this new development, maybe, runs the risk of alienating Gurley regardless. As noted by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Los Angeles named its team captains for the regular season on Thursday, and Gurley was conspicuously absent from the list.
The Rams' captains this season are franchise quarterback Jared Goff, stalwart left tackle Andrew Whitworth, two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle, star cornerback Aqib Talib, and punter Johnny Hekker. It's the first time since Gurley's rookie year in 2015 that he was not named a captain.
To be clear, there's absolutely no evidence Gurley has taken umbrage at not being a captain. Coach Sean McVay addressed the matter with the media on Thursday, telling reporters Gurley missed out on serving as a captain by just a few votes and is “still looked at as a leader.”
Rams coach Sean McVay is asked about RB Todd Gurley no longer being recognized as a captain by his teammates: “He’s still looked at as a leader.” Mentions he was just a few votes shy. @usatodaynfl @DowntownRams @CVRamsClub
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) September 5, 2019
Gurley, a fifth-year pro, enjoyed another stellar season in 2018, finishing with 1,251 rushing yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns. His role was reduced in the playoffs, though, as he dealt with nagging injuries and backup C.J. Anderson asserted himself in the running game.
