When the Los Angeles Rams picked Darrell Henderson out of the University of Memphis in the 2019 NFL Draft, many wondered what it meant for incumbent running back Todd Gurley.
Henderson made a name for himself at Memphis as a speedy, explosive back who can make tacklers miss in the open field. His skillset and selection in the third round both make him overqualified to simply be a backup for arguably the league’s best three-down back, which is what Gurley was considered to be less than six months ago.
Gurley, a perennial superstar and All-Pro, saw limited playing time throughout the end of the 2018 NFL regular season and during the Rams’ playoff run to Super Bowl LIII, thanks to a mysterious knee injury.
Reports have since surfaced claiming that Gurley has arthritis and the Rams are considering stem-cell treatment as an option for him. Neither Gurley nor the team have confirmed or denied the reports.
After C.J. Anderson, who shockingly became the team’s lead back in the postseason, left in free agency, Henderson seems like a vital insurance policy should Gurley’s injury struggles remain.
But Henderson also knows his place around one of the most respected running backs in the entire NFL. He appreciates his opportunity to work alongside Gurley, per Clarence Dennis of TheRams.com:
“I mean it’s just unbelievable. He’s a great guy, he’s a great player and he reached out to me when I got drafted and we’ve stayed in touch. I’m ready to learn from him.”
Despite soaking up a majority of touches out of the Rams’ backfield in December and January, Anderson repeatedly went out of his way to praise Gurley. The two never showed a hint of feuding publicly, even as Anderson’s presence forced a clearly unhealthy Gurley more and more to the sidelines.
As Henderson’s rookie year draws closer, it seems like he will take a similar approach. Hopefully, Gurley will be healthy enough to make himself and Henderson a deadly combination for opposing defenses out of the Rams’ backfield.
