Los Angeles Rams: Todd Gurley injury opens a new door for LA

Todd Gurley might be inactive in the Los Angeles Rams game against the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, opening a new door for the team.

The Los Angeles Rams have lost two games in a row and could suffer another loss before their Week 6 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

The team may be without star running back, Todd Gurley. Gurley did not participate in practice at all this past week after suffering a quad injury in Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. However, Gurley is not completely ruled out, as head coach Sean McVay is going to allow the back to make the decision of whether or not he is ready (h/t CBS Sports).

Gurley’s pride might end up leading to him playing in this game but after not practicing for an entire week, it is hard to see Gurley feeling good enough to take actual game reps. Even if he is active, it’s doubtful that he has a meaningful role.

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This is worrisome for the Los Angeles Rams, who have lost two games in a row. Jared Goff was better against the Seahawks than he was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but there are still the concerns of how the offense will succeed without Gurley.

We saw it last year in the playoffs: this offense thrives off having a good running game and backing that running game up with play-action passes. It is no coincidence that the offense has not looked as good this year with Gurley not being 100 percent.

This opens a door for the Los Angeles Rams that has not been open yet, although it should have. The game keeps going, with or without Gurley, and the Rams are going to have to find someone to replace that production.

The first man in line is Malcolm Brown, who has served as Gurley’s backup since 2016. Brown had a really good showing in Week 1 but has been virtually absent since; he has 61 rushing yards on 15 carries since Week 1.

Even stranger than not using Brown that much is the fact that the Rams have not used third-round pick Darrell Henderson at all. Henderson has one carry, coming in Week 1, and has been on the field for just two offensive snaps this season.

This is the guy that the Rams used a third-round pick on (their second pick of the draft) in order to lighten the load on Gurley. The guy that every fan was getting excited about as he added a new dynamic to the running game.

And the Rams simply have not used him. Instead of using that pick on a player that could be on the field, they used it on a back that has stood around on the sideline. Granted, he has the rest of his career ahead of him, but the Rams could have picked a running back next year if they did not plan on using him this year.

Having Gurley out at least opens the door for the Rams to use Henderson, even if it is in a secondary role behind Brown. Henderson is talented, makes guys miss and is even a threat in the passing game. On paper, he should fit into this offense seamlessly.

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We will never know until the Los Angeles Rams actually use him, which hopefully comes this week.

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