Don't expect to see Todd Gurley make his much-anticipated NFL debut until Week 4.
The St. Louis Rams rookie running back, who is nearing the end of his 10-month rehabilitation from a torn ACL, isn't expected to play the first three weeks of the season, two sources informed of his recovery told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport on Tuesday. The team wants to play it safe with its first-round pick out of Georgia by making sure he's fully healthy.
Gurley has been cleared for contact drills by the team, and Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he could see an increased workload in practice in the days ahead.
"We're just going to build his reps on the practice field and we'll just see," Fisher said Tuesday. "We're going to probably pad up tomorrow, so he'll get a lot of reps tomorrow and then we'll back down Thursday and then go out there and have a fast Friday and he'll get a lot of reps. That's what we're looking for for him and we'll see how he is at the end of the week."
On Saturday, Fisher ruled out Gurley for the team's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
"I definitely would want to be playing, but I know it's going to be a long journey," Gurley said Monday. "You have to be patient and when the time comes it comes. I'll be ready for it."
Gurley isn't the only running back who will miss his team's season debut. C.J. Spiller continues to recover from arthroscopic knee surgery and will not play for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, a source informed of the injury told Rapoport. He should be able to play Sept. 20 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As for the Buffalo Bills, LeSean McCoy (hamstring), will play this week against the Indianapolis Colts, Rapoport reported, via a source who has spoken to him. He likely will see limited carries.
