Fansided

Todd Gurley: Rams still unsure first-round pick will be ready

By Connor Muldowney

May 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams first round draft pick Todd Gurley poses for a photo after a press conference at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams first round draft pick Todd Gurley poses for a photo after a press conference at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

After being drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Todd Gurley’s timetable for a return to the field is still unclear.

More from Los Angeles Rams

The St. Louis Rams are hoping to get first round draft pick, running back Todd Gurley, on the field before Week One of the regular season, but it may not be likely.

Coming off a torn ACL that cost him the final month of his junior season at Georgia, Gurley was expected to be one of the better running backs of the 2015 class. The Rams drafted him on his potential and were surprisingly not scared by his very recent knee injury that required major surgery and at least a six-month rehab stint.

Next: 32 best NFL Draft picks of all-time

Now that the offseason training camps have begun, head coach Jeff Fisher is trying to figure out when his potential starting running back will be ready for play.

Fisher gave some insight to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Gurley’s eventual return to the field.

"“It’s hard to say right now. I can’t predict that. I know he’s doing well. He had a day off today because he’s doing so well. He’ll rehab with us during the break. … We’re just going to see how he progresses. … If he’s not PUP-ed (physically unable to perform), then I think you could probably assume that he’s going to play sooner than you think.”"

It’s pretty apparent that everyone close to the organization is excited to have the rookie running back in the lineup. In his three seasons with the Bulldogs, Gurley racked up 3,900 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns despite not playing full seasons — he never averaged less than 6.0 yards per carry.

There is a reason St. Louis drafted this guy No. 10 overall in this past draft and shocked just about everyone who thought he would drop to the 20-25 range. Gurley has tremendous potential and if he can stay healthy for an entire season, he could put up eye-opening numbers.

Remember when Odell Beckham Jr. stayed healthy for the final 12 games of the 2014 season at wide receiver for the New York Giants? He put up video game-like numbers. Don’t be surprised if Gurley puts up much of the same type of elevated statistics if he can cobble together a full NFL season.

Fisher seems a bit optimistic, but you should never rush an ACL injury.

[Pro Football Talk]

More from FanSided

Home/Los Angeles Rams