After an initial prognosis that listed Gurley as day-to-day, the highest-paid running back in NFL history sat out the final two games of the regular season because of inflammation and soreness in his left knee, the same knee that was surgically repaired his junior season at Georgia in 2014.new nike nfl jerseys for sale cheap

Gurley appeared on the Rams’ injury report for three weeks (the Rams did not release an injury report during a bye week before the playoffs), then played in a divisional-round game against the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared healthy and fresh, as he split carries with backup C.J. Anderson, who signed in mid-December. Anderson proved himself as a capable option when he rushed for a combined 299 yards in the final two regular-season games against the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers.

“They were both just in a really good rhythm,” McVay said after the season. “I think the ideal scenario that we had gone into the playoffs with was what you saw in Dallas, where it was both of those guys getting involved.”

But that is not how the Gurley-Anderson combination played out.

Gurley, then the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, stood on the sideline for 54 percent of the snaps in a conference championship win over the New Orleans Saints and gained 13 total yards, with a touchdown, on five touches.

Two weeks later, in a loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, Gurley’s stagnation continued. He played 66 percent of the snaps and rushed for only 34 yards on 10 carries.

After the season, McVay pointed to a lack of opportunities to get Gurley going against the Patriots.

“Todd gets into a little bit of a rhythm or it seems like when we’d have a good positive run then something would inevitably occur to set us back,” McVay said. “And then when you’re not efficient on third downs, we just didn’t get a lot of attempts off.”

Since the season ended, speculation has continued about Gurley’s health, and whether an ailing knee was what kept him on the sideline and from performing to his standard level.

But two days before the Super Bowl, McVay said that Gurley was “100 percent,” and immediately after the game, Gurley said that he “felt good.”cheap nfl jerseys nike china

“It’s a team sport. There’s 11 people on the field,” Gurley said. “Everyone can’t touch the ball. Still a great season by us. I’m blessed either way it goes.”

Gurley, 24, declined to speak with reporters two days after the game as he cleaned out his locker for the offseason.