This is potentially some huge news for the St. Louis Rams and the broader NFC West. Rookie first-round pick Todd Gurley, who tore his left ACL back in November while playing at Georgia, will start training camp on the team’s active roster.
RB Todd Gurley passes his conditioning test with Rams Tuesday _ impressively we might add. Will begin camp on active roster.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) July 28, 2015
Considering the injury happened late in the college football season, some expected Gurley to be a non-factor early in his rookie campaign. Now that he’s starting camp without being placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, there’s a decent chance the running back will actually be the Rams starter in Week 1:
“Head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead said on draft night that they feel like Todd Gurley has a chance to be a special player, and that’s why he’s with the club,” Myles Simmons wrote on the team’s official website on Tuesday. “This week, Gurley passed his physical with flying colors and will be on the active roster for the start of training camp.”
Gurley, the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft this past May, finished his three-year Georgia career with 3,900 total yards and 42 touchdowns in just 30 games. Going up against elite SEC defenses during that span, those numbers are remarkable. They equate to an average of 130 yards and 1.4 touchdowns per outing.
In terms of what he provides on tape, Gurley is seen as a special prospect:
“I like the Marshawn Lynch comparison. St. Louis wants to win games the same way that Seattle and San Francisco do in the same division, that is by running the football and playing great defense and special teams,” NFL Media’s Mike Mayock said about the running back back in May. “Gurley has Olympic-type speed.”
With Gurley healthy and second-year running back Tre Mason looking to progress after a decent rookie campaign, the Rams appear to be loaded in the backfield. If they can get average quarterback play from Foles while continuing to put up a stellar performance on defense, this team will not be an easy out in the ultra-competitive NFC West.
Having Gurley ready to go this soon after suffering a serious knee injury is only icing on the cake.
Photo: USA Today Sports