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One of the biggest mysteries around the NFL this offseason is the status of Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, who injured his knee in Week 15 and never seemed to recover.
Now, it has been nearly six months since Gurley suffered the injury, and we don't really have much of an update on his health.
The 24-year-old missed the Rams' final two regular-season games before returning in the divisional round of the playoffs and gashing the Dallas Cowboys for 115 yards and a couple of touchdowns. However, Gurley was then a non-factor in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl, leading many to wonder how close he was to 100 percent.
Gurley has been tight-lipped about his knee this offseason and has not been participating in any of the Rams' offseason workouts. Additionally, former NFL running back and current Rams radio analyst Maurice Jones-Drew recently said on NFL Total Access that Los Angeles will be decreasing Gurley's workload in 2019, an indication that the Rams are not too confident in his health. He also added that the three-time Pro Bowler was playing with a bum knee through all of 2018, which is a very interesting and concerning development.
So, what should we expect from Gurley this coming season?
The fact of the matter is that none of us really knows what to expect, as we don't know how healthy Gurley is and if he will reach 100 percent by any point in 2019.
Obviously, when Gurley is right, he is one of the best running backs in the league, but the fact that Los Angeles drafted Memphis halfback Darrell Henderson in the third round in April is a sign that the Rams might not be anticipating a monster year from Gurley.
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Let's also remember that L.A. general manager Les Snead said the team is not even expecting Gurley to play in preseason games, further evidence that the Rams are not fully sold on Gurley's status.
Realistically, we should expect Gurley's workload to drop in 2019, so he probably won't be averaging the 18-19 carries per game we have become accustomed to over the last several years.
Taking that into consideration, it would not be shocking to see the two-time All-Pro finish with under 1,000 yards this coming season, and while he might still punch in double-digit touchdowns based on red zone opportunities, his overall numbers will probably dip across the board.
Aside from the 2016 campaign when Gurley had an awful year, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry behind a terrible Rams offense, Gurley has been one of the top five running backs in the NFL, leading the league in rushing touchdowns each of the last two years and developing into a legitimate pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Gurley has also been very efficient, averaging 4.8, 4.7 and 4.9 yards per attempt in 2015, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
2019 could represent a changing of the guard in Los Angeles. Gurley may no longer be the focal point of the Rams' offense.
As a result, we probably should not expect to see Gurley post elite numbers this year.
