Normally this blog is dedicated to covering and talking about up-and-coming players in the NFL, but I’ve decided to use this week to talk about something different. To talk about a big mystery in the NFL. To talk about how one of its best players is not playing like he used to. This week I’m talking about what in the world is up with Todd Gurley.
2011 North Carolina Player of the Year. 4-Star Recruit. 2x All-SEC. 1st Round Draft Pick. NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. 3× Pro Bowler. 2× First-team All-Pro. NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
These are just some of the accolades Ram’s running back Todd Gurley II has accumulated over his storied football career. But… what’s wrong with him? He’s listed as healthy on the Rams depth chart, but he hasn’t been his usual self. While he played well in week 1, rushing 14 times for 97 yards, his stats were boosted by 2 long runs. In the games since then, he is averaging less than 4 yards per carry. He used to be a threat to score from anywhere, and now he’s barely a threat to even get the ball.
All of Gurley’s recent on field troubles can be traced back to December 16, 2018. That Sunday night was when Gurley suffered an injury to his left knee, the same knee that was surgically repaired after he tore his ACL during his junior year of college. While he did go back in the game after sitting out a few plays, it’s clear that he hasn’t been the same since. After the injury, he sat out the following two contests due to “inflammation and soreness” in his knee, according to the injury report. Still, he was back in time for the playoffs, and while he played well against the Cowboys (16 carries, 115 yards, and 1 touchdown), he played poorly in the games that followed, including the Super Bowl. Against the New Orleans Saints for the Conference Championship he was on the sideline for most of the win, finishing with 13 total yards on five touches; two weeks later, in a Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots, he had only 34 yards on 10 carries, even though he played 66% of the snaps.
Running back is one of the most physical demanding positions in the football, as they are hit or take some form of contact nearly every play. Knee injuries are some of the most debilitating in all of sports, as you need your lower body for nearly everything. For Todd Gurley, a player whose game is predicated on power, quick cuts, and above average speed, his this does not bode well. There are even reports that he has arthritis in his knee due to the various injuries that he has suffered.
Todd Gurley is a top 15 player in the National Football League and one of its most exciting players when healthy. Hopefully Gurley’s slow start is due to offseason rust and this whole article is an overreaction, because every football fan wants to see him back at 100 percent.