Todd Gurley and the Los Angeles Rams could not be more excited to get the 2019 NFL season underway and they are set to do just that against a very tough Carolina Panthers football team. Both teams are considered teams to watch in the NFC, but there is no question that Sean McVay and the Rams are considered to be the better team.

After winning the NFC last season, the Rams were unable to get anything going in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. They ended up losing the game by a final score of 13-3.

Don't think that L.A. has forgotten the embarrassing loss. The Rams have not forgotten that pain and they cannot wait to get a win to open the season to help get the bad taste out of their mouth.

One of the biggest question marks for the Rams this season is the health and role for superstar running back Gurley. He missed a lot of time late in the season and on the Rams' playoff run due to a knee injury. There have been reports that he could have an injury that seriously hinders him long-term.

All of that being said, what should the fans expect to see from Gurley this coming week against Carolina?

Quite simply, Gurley is going to open up the season with a very strong performance. Granted, he may end up receiving fewer touches as the Rams try to preserve him throughout the entire season, but he has been adamant that he feels good and is ready to play high-caliber football once again this season.

Last year with the Rams, Gurley ended up carrying the football 256 times for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 59 passes for 580 yards and another four touchdowns. Those numbers show why there has been so much publicity surrounding this injury.

At 25 years old, Gurley is in the prime of his career. The knee injury is always a concern, but with him making it clear that he expects to be fully health this season, fans should put their worries aside and simply enjoy watching him play. Los Angeles knows what he can handle and they are going to be very careful with him.

So, with that being said, what kind of role will he have this week against the Panthers? It's always hard to predict stats on a week-to-week basis, but it would be reasonable to expect to see him get around 20 carries and maybe another five receptions. Gurley should be able to rack up around 100 to 120 all-purpose yards and a touchdown as well.

Darrell Henderson is going to get some run as a rookie in the backfield for the Rams, but they are not going to sit Gurley as much as some seem to think. He is still one of the best running backs in the NFL and that will not be changing anytime soon.

Gurley is going to be out to prove the media wrong in Week 1 as well. He has not been happy with how the media has handled the entire situation and nothing can shut them up more than a big performance against the Panthers.

The Rams are excited to get the season underway and there should be a lot more excitement than concern surrounding Gurley.