Todd Gurley was drafted No. 10 overall by the St. Louis Rams with the future in mind. In the short term, he's not ready to return to the field.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that Gurley is expected to be on Non-Football Injury list to start training camp, according to sources informed of his situation. Rapoport notes that this was the team's plan when they drafted him, and they can take him off the list whenever he is fully ready.
There have been no reports about a setback with Gurley's knee throughout the offseason. The team was noncommittal about Gurley being ready for camp, but coach Jeff Fisher did say "you could probably assume" Gurley will play sooner than you think.
There are a lot of big position battles heading into camp. As we discussed on Tuesday's podcast, Gurley's battle against his own health is one of the key stories to watch in August. The Rams had the second best rookie running back in the league last year in Tre Mason.
If Gurley can handle at least half the running load early in the season, this should be one of the most exciting backfields in the league. After years of building and legitimate excuses in St. Louis, Fisher needs to win more than seven games soon. Gurley's health is a key factor in doing so.
*The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses the eight most intriguing training camp battles heading into the season. *
