In March, the Falcons agreed to sign Todd Gurley to a one-year deal. Weeks later, in early April, they officially the agreement, though Gurley had yet to actually sign his deal or take his physical. We’re now midway through May and Gurley still hasn’t taken a physical for Atlanta, according to offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
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“The main question that no one seems to know is, ‘What’s his health status?,” Koetter said.
NFL players have not been able to take undergo traditional physicals during the pandemic, so it’s not a shock to hear that Gurley hasn’t been checked out by the Falcons’ team doctors yet. Other free agents have had physicals conducted with independent and mutually agreed upon doctors, but Koetter’s comments seem to indicate that the Falcons are in the dark, to a degree, when it comes to their new running back.
For what it’s worth, those close to Gurley say that he is in minimal pain and healing up about as well as anyone could have expected. Once things get back to normal, the Falcons will want to take a close look at Gurley’s knee and formulate a game plan to keep him on the field. That injury has plagued the two-time All-Pro. With the Rams last year, he averaged just 3.8 yards per tote and just 6.7 yards per catch. Prior to that, he managed 40 all-purpose touchdowns between ’17 and ’18 while averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
“What’s his workload?,” Koetter asked, rhetorically (via ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure). “He averaged about 17 touches a game last year, which is a little lower than he had been when he was All-Pro. We’re just gonna have to find that out once we get here and get him working, get him up and running.”
In a worst case scenario, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff says the team has injury protection on Gurley’s deal. Assuming everything checks out, Gurley will star in the Falcons’ backfield on a one-year, $11MM deal. Only $6MM of that figure comes from the Falcons’ books – the Rams are on the hook for $7.5MM and the rest ($2.5MM) comes by way of offset pay.
I heard he already passed it
You should be a writer
I would I’m not old enough only 12
Age is just a number
Won’t pass, Rams cut him because he has chronic degenerative issues with his knee. He is done.
I don’t think you understand what “chronic degenerative” means.
Kinda does. He’s just calling it now, instead of the near future.
Might not even be the near future. Myself and others have had chronic degenerative conditions that have persisted for decades.
I think people are quick to write off guys because they aren’t at their peak. Is Gurley going to return to 17 or 18 form in 20? Very unlikely. But you can recover from injury and Gurley could still be a valuable asset to the Falcons. To some fans if he’s not vintage Gurley he’s cooked. I realized he’s aged and has some miles on him and his knee but this is a guy drafted high coming off a prior major knee surgery. His skills were that good and the pick worked out white well for the Stl now LA Rams. But like Koetter said Gurleys current health status is unknown. I don’t think the miles on him are so much that he can’t contribute I think it all comes down to his recovery.
It’s not strictly about the mileage; It’s the degenerative nature of his knee problems
There are plenty of tradesmen out there who have had chronic degenerative knee, back and neck problems for years. They can still do a good job although it’s more difficult for them.
exactly. the guy produced 1000 total yards last year coming off the injury and should probably show better form this year. for what they’re giving him its beyond a worthwhile risk.
“They officially the agreement. “. Let it sit there.
I saw that as well! Just reading your comment though, it sounds like the newest ESPN documentary about this signing haha!