Todd Gurley is aiming to play weighing closer to 218lbs this season, while last year he played closer to 225lbs, according to NFL Network’s Steve Wyche.
The plan has been signed off by the Rams who are hoping Gurley’s lighter weight will improve his agility and also perhaps make him more a threat in the passing game.
In the Rams’ 13-3 Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots Gurley only had 10 carries from which he made 35 yards and he had one reception for minus one yards.
Rams coach Sean McVay confirmed Gurley hasn’t been taking part in Organised Team Activities in the off-season, but revealed the running back has been working out at their facility and that they are happy with his current progress.
“We’ve been really pleased with Todd,” McVay said.
“He’s done some different things with Travelle Gaines and some of those trainers.
“But then he’s also been here consistently pretty much every single day of the weeks and he’s been an active participant, following the program that we’ve implemented with him and we’re very pleased with where Todd’s at right now.”
Wyche, speaking on the NFL show Up To The Minute Live, insist the Rams still have concerns over the ACL injury that the running back suffered in university but are hoping the weight loss will improve his performance and fitness.
“McVay has said by lightening the load a little bit, they’re going to make Gurley a little more agile, maybe make him a little more dangerous in the passing game,” Wyche said.
“Is there any lingering effects from the ACL injury Todd Gurley had when he was at the University of Georgia? Yes, that is common with all athletes. It is not an everyday thing.
“Now, is there anything medical that the Rams or anyone is worrying about that’s going to diminish Todd Gurley? Absolutely not.
“This is simply a maintenance program, something to take the load off so Todd Gurley can be better later in the season as oppose to maybe not having as much left.”
Gurley suffered a knee injury during the regular season and Los Angeles even brought in CJ Anderson before Christmas to allow Gurley time to recover from inflammation in his left knee – Gurley sat out two games in Weeks 16 and 17.
However, in the post-season the 24-year-old running back only mustered 30 carries in total over the Rams’ three post-season games.
At the end of the regular season games he was averaging just over 18 carries a game, nearly double of what he was producing in the playoffs.
Wyche revealed the Rams are looking to still take it easy on Gurley’s knee during his off-season workouts and aren’t exposing him to heavy-pounding training, such as running hills or sand dunes.
The Rams’ first pre-season game is against the Oakland Raiders on August 11 with the regular season getting underway against the Carolina Panthers on September 8.