A revelation from running back C.J. Anderson that Todd Gurley's knee injury was more severe than the Los Angeles Rams thought -- and disclosed -- triggered an NFL request for more information from the team, a league source told Field Level Media.
Gurley was not on the Super Bowl injury report. He largely gave way to Anderson in the postseason, but the company line from the Rams centered around head coach Sean McVay taking the blame for not getting Gurley more involved.
Gurley missed the final two regular-season games, dealing with an undisclosed knee problem, after rushing for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns in 14 games. He also caught 59 passes for 580 yards and four scores.
After the Rams went through their final on-field workout Friday, two days before the Super Bowl, McVay labeled Gurley "100 percent."
A league source told FLM that the NFL office routinely seeks more information from teams in situations such as Gurley's. Rams spokesman Artis Tyman did not confirm or deny a request for information was made regarding Gurley's injury since Anderson's comments and directed queries on the matter to the NFL.
In 2017, the NFL ruled the Seattle Seahawks misinterpreted the rules when failing to disclose cornerback Richard Sherman's sprained knee. Seattle was let off with only a warning, but reportedly faced potential discipline including a fine or loss of a draft pick.
Gurley returned for the playoffs -- with 16 carries for 115 yards against Dallas -- but had only a combined 14 carries and two receptions in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIII.
But Gurley rushed just 10 times for 35 yards in the 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
"The injury was a little bit more than what everybody in the building thought, including himself," Anderson said Tuesday on FS1's "Undisputed."
Anderson said he would call the injury a sprained knee. Gurley suffered a torn left ACL in 2014.
"Obviously, it's the same knee injury he's had before in his career," Anderson said.
"I had surgery on my meniscus and once you have a knee, you always have a knee. So it aggravates, and if he was getting a lot of touches earlier in the year -- obviously him being one of the best running backs, that probably was the case."
Anderson, signed with the Rams for the final two regular-season games, had 46 postseason carries. Gurley had 30.
Gurley led the NFL with 21 touchdowns and 17 rushing scores during the regular season. He notched his third 1,000-yard rushing season in four years since the Rams took him with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
--By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media