Todd Gurley Injury Update: Rams RB Cleared to Practice with Team

For the first time since tearing his ACL last November, St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley is nearing his return to practice. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed Monday the first-rounder received the medical clearance necessary to suit up, per the team's Twitter account.

According to Dani Klupenger of Fox Sports Midwest, the team will slowly get Gurley back into football shape before allowing him to take part in full practices. ESPN.com's Nick Wagoner added Gurley won't appear in either of the Rams' two remaining preseason games and that the team isn't sure when he'll make his debut.

Although Rams fans want to see the 10th overall pick finally suit up for St. Louis, they also likely appreciate the team taking every precaution in his recovery. Especially given how many players have gotten hurt this preseason, there's no reason to risk further injury to Gurley now.

Willis McGahee might be the closest parallel to Gurley in terms of a rookie running back suffering a major injury so close to the draft, and the Buffalo Bills held McGahee out for the entirety of the first season.

Gurley is prepared to take as long as needed in order to get back to 100 percent.

"Right now, we're not pushing anything," Gurley said in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio earlier in the month (via NFL.com's Dan Hanzus). "It's kind of taking it day-by-day and week-by-week. Whether it's Week 5 or Week 1, 10 years from now nobody is going to remember what you did the first five games. You've just got to take it easy."