Gurley was benched

#Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris told reporters that Todd Gurley’s role with the team has changed and Ito Smith is the lead back moving forward. Change is strictly because of how Smith has performed.

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 21, 2020

==

Falcons benching Pro Bowler Todd Gurley for Ito Smith

Jesse Pantuosco

https://www.radio.com/sports/nfl/falcons-benching-pro-bowler-todd-gurley-for-ito-smith

In 2018, Todd Gurley was on top of the world. Coming off an Offensive Player of the Year Award and a runner-up finish to Tom Brady in MVP voting, the Rams rewarded Gurley with a four-year, $60-million extension, making him the highest-paid running back in league history.

What happened?

In a two-year span, Gurley has gone from being the most unstoppable force in football to a forgotten backup on the brink of NFL extinction. Gurley, who has averaged an anemic 3.5 yards per carry in his debut season with Atlanta (the cap-strapped Rams decided they didn’t have the budget for him, prompting his release), has apparently fallen behind Ito Smith in the Falcons’ pecking order. Interim coach Raheem Morris made it official Monday, though Gurley’s demotion seemed to be in effect Sunday with Smith and Brian Hill both out-touching the rapidly declining 26-year-old in a loss to Tampa Bay.

Since blowing up for 121 rushing yards (his most since Week 13 of 2018) against the Panthers on October 11th, Gurley has seen his production plummet, contributing a meager 2.6 yards per carry on 103 largely futile backfield attempts. Gurley has still made his presence felt in the end zone with nine touchdowns (he was leading the league in that category earlier this year, if you can believe it), though it’s evident the 2015 first-rounder has little left in his NFL tank.

Injuries will do that to a player—Gurley’s arthritic knee has sapped him of any burst he once had. Perhaps Gurley can manage to hang around a few more years as veteran depth. He’s still a load at 6’1”/224 with decent mitts (239-2,203-12 career receiving line), though any expectation of Gurley regaining his Pro Bowl form in Atlanta has quickly vanished. Gurley’s prime was over too soon, but unfortunately, that’s become a pretty common occurrence for the running back position, which has a notoriously short shelf life.