Rams RB Todd Gurley Not Expected to be Ready Week 1

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According to a report on their official website, St. Louis Rams 2015 first-round draft pick running back Todd Gurley will not be available for the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Drafted No. 10 overall out of Georgia, Gurley is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered last fall during a game against Auburn.

Making that announcement is head coach Jeff Fisher, who was optimistic about Gurley’s progress and didn’t rule out anything beyond Week 1. Per Rams insider Myles Simmons, Fisher said:

“Gurley’s not going to play this week. He had two treatment sessions today, and he’s doing well. We’ll see how he is during the week.”

Gurley has progressed from practicing in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills but is reportedly still wearing the yellow non-contact cap on his helmet. Whether Gurley’s status will improve and he will be allowed to practice in contact this week remains to be seen.

With Gurley sidelined for the Rams first game and possibly more, the team will turn to Tre Mason, though he’s healing from a hamstring injury. Fisher noted that Mason’s injury was doing better, which is an improvement over the questionable status Fisher told reporters last week. Beyond Gurley and Mason on the depth chart sit Benny Cunningham, Chase Reynolds, Isaiah Pead and Malcolm Brown.

No matter who will indeed start for the Rams, Fisher claims the coaching staff will have the team ready take on the daunting Seahawks defense on Sunday, Sep. 13:

“The staff is well ahead.We started that several weeks ago — several months ago actually. So we’ve spent a lot of time on Seattle and they’re a really good team.”

As for Gurley, who sustained a torn ACL last November, the team drafted himknowing there was the risk that their first-round pick might have to miss time once the regular NFL season got underway.

However, that risk has now become a reality that hopefully will not drag out too long this season.