Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley expects to play against

THOUSAND OAKS Los Angeles Rams T-Shirt , Calif. (AP) —the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in spite of a knee injury.If the game was earlier, however, Gurley wasn’t quite as certain about his status.“I haven’t tried to run so, yeah, that’s a tough question,” Gurley said Thursday night.Gurley did not practice Thursday as he deals with inflammation in his knee that flared up in the 30-23 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday night. Gurley, who leads the NFL with 21 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns, does not expect to practice before the Rams travel to Arizona.However, Gurley was adamant he would play provided he gets medical clearance to do so.“We got a game to win, and I’m pretty sure me being out there, if I can be out there, I would put this team in a good position to help them win,” Gurley said. “So why wouldn’t I be out there, you know, if I can play? That’s what we are trying to do. We’re trying to win.”Coach Sean McVay said Wednesday he would consider resting Gurley to make sure the second-leading runner in the league with 1,251 yards rushing is available for the playoffs Los Angeles Rams Hats , as the Rams (11-3) have already won the NFC West.That is not acceptable to Gurley, not with the team on a two-game losing streak and still trying to secure a first-round bye.“We’re not worried about three weeks from now,” Gurley said. “We’re worried about this week.”At the same time, Gurley said he would not jeopardize his health by playing if he did not feel comfortable.“I’m not going to tell those guys I’m fine when I’m not, you know,” Gurley said. “If you go out there (like that you) could risk something else, so it’s a two-way street. That’s why we communicate.”Complicating Gurley’s situation is the availability of Justin Davis, the second-year running back from Southern California who sustained a shoulder injury against the Eagles while backing up Gurley.Davis also missed practice Thursday, which left C.J. Anderson and John Kelly as the only running backs available. Anderson signed with the Rams on Tuesday, and the rookie Kelly has two career carries for four yards.A 1,000-yard rusher for Denver in 2017, Anderson helped the Broncos to appearances in Super Bowl 48 and 50. Anderson rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown in the 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50.“He’s one of the reasons I have a Super Bowl ring,” said Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who held the same position with Denver during the 2015 season.Anderson was waived by the Panthers on Nov. 12 after rushing for 104 yards and no touchdowns in nine games. He signed a one-year contract with Carolina in May. Anderson signed with Oakland on Dec. 4 but was released one week later without appearing in a game.In spite of his lack of familiarity with the Rams offense and limited production this season, the six-year veteran Anderson was confident he would be able to contribute if Gurley does not play.“The game don’t change,” Anderson said. “What I see and what I do and how I prepare Los Angeles Rams Womens Hoodie , that’s never changed. It hasn’t changed since I was in Carolina. Gruden, I was ready to play that Sunday if he needed me that Sunday when I was in Oakland, and it doesn’t change here. It’s how you are as a player. I love the game, I love putting in work, I love learning. I want all these guys to know they can count on 35 when I’m out there.”Anderson said the Rams’ scheme is similar to what he ran in Denver for coach Gary Kubiak and the extensive reps he got in practice Thursday were helping him get up to speed quickly. Gurley said it would help that Anderson had to learn the plays needed against the Cardinals (3-11) and not the entire playbook.Still, Gurley plans to take pressure off Anderson by handling his usual role.“I’m here to play ball,” Gurley said. The Los Angeles Rams' top defenders reacted with predictable glee when they heard about the addition of pass-rusher Dante Fowler through a trade with Jacksonville."I found out about it, and I was smiling ear to ear," defensive tackle Aaron Donald said Wednesday.The unbeaten Rams' next opponents — the New Orleans Saints — also reacted as you might expect to LA's big addition ahead of their NFC showdown at the Superdome."They couldn't have waited a week?" quarterback Drew Brees asked lightheartedly. "He obviously adds some juice to that D-line that's already really stout."Fowler passed his physical and went through the Rams' typically light Wednesday workout at their training complex. In between cram sessions on the Rams' defensive setup, he spent part of the afternoon in the locker room just talking with his new teammates."It's a new chapter, that's how I look at it," Fowler said. "It's a fresh start, just being able to start over and show guys who I really am."Fowler will play for the Rams as a linebacker, which he considers his "natural position." He is hoping to be more of an every-down contributor than he was in Jacksonville, and he is eager to see what he can do on the rush when defenses must account for Donald, Ndamukong Suh and him on the same passing plays."(I want) to go in there Womens Customized Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , being the extra piece and just contributing to this great defense and to be a part of this special season," Fowler said. "I'm ready to come in here and do what I've got to do to get us where we want to go. ... (Donald is the) best defensive tackle in the league, and Ndamukong Suh is a dominant defensive tackle. Shouldn't be no reason, when I do have my one-on-ones, I've just got to make the most out of them."The Rams want to go to the Super Bowl, and they're expected to be a strong contender after the franchise's first 8-0 start since 1969.Fowler has a major advantage in playoff experience over most of his new teammates: The Jaguars reached the AFC championship game last season, winning two playoff games along the way before losing to New England. The Rams made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2004 seasons, and they lost their only postseason game to Atlanta."I was on a really good team last year," said Fowler, who had two sacks in the conference title game. "So it's giving me a little drive, making me really excited, because I already know the way (to prepare) to be a championship team, and I'm ready for it."Fowler already has one friend on the Rams' defense: Dominique Easley, LA's injured veteran lineman and linebacker, was Fowler's host at the University of Florida when he was choosing a college. Fowler called him "my big brother."Coach Sean McVay isn't sure how much Fowler will play against the Saints (6-1), but the former first-round pick's arrival added another dimension to an already solid defense."We anticipate him being able to be involved Cooper Kupp Jersey Elite , and we'll see how he's able to adjust, how he's able to absorb that information," McVay said. "We wanted to get him in here, and (we're) hopeful that he's a contributor for us as soon as this weekend against a tough team."NOTESMcVay still anticipates the return of WR Cooper Kupp from a two-game absence with a knee injury. Kupp was limited in practice Wednesday, but the Rams typically don't do much physical work on Wednesdays. ... LB Trevon Young was the only other Rams player on the injury report. He was limited with his back injury. ... The Rams intend to lean on center Brian Allen and rookie Joseph Noteboom as their backup offensive linemen after the loss of Jamon Brown, who was released to make room for Fowler. "What a class act," McVay said of Brown. "Couldn't have been more impressed with just the way that he handled a tough, difficult discussion. There's always the human element that I don't think you'll ever be OK with. That's what's tough for us, for me as a coach, is when you've got to look somebody in the eye who's been nothing but a class act, a great teammate, instrumental in being able to win a division last year."AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.