The Los Angeles Rams have done what they can to downplay Todd Gurley’s knee issue, but it appears there was indeed more to the injury than they initially believed.
Gurley has been widely considered one of the elite running backs in the league over the last two seasons. He had been in the midst of an MVP-caliber campaign during the 2018 NFL season when he was forced to miss the last two games of the season due to a knee injury.
His usage throughout the playoffs raised further speculation regarding his status. Unfortunately, it seems there is a reason for concern.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, Gurley reportedly has arthritis in his knee:
Rams running back Todd Gurley has arthritis in his knee, according to a source. Helps explain his limited usage in the playoffs.
This is certainly not the most encouraging update for Gurley. Especially since it is the same knee that was surgically repaired after suffering a torn ACL back in his final season at Georgia.
Despite the devastating injury, the Rams still went ahead and made him the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has since been the unquestioned workhorse for this team, but it appears the injury has started to catch up with him.
This would certainly explain Gurley’s lack of involvement down the final stretch of the season. It could also hinder his role on the offense moving forward after general manager Les Snead indicated that Los Angeles will likely monitor his workload from now on.
The Rams made quite the investment in the 24-year-old last offseason when they made him the highest-paid running back in the league. Their biggest concern will be making sure Gurley stays healthy enough to still make an impact until his lucrative deal is up.
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