Rams reducing running back Gurley’s role in 2019

All-Pro Todd Gurley likely won’t be the workhorse out of the backfield for the Los Angeles Rams this season.NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Rams are going to incorporate a number of running backs into the game in 2019, including Darrell Henderson, their third-round draft pick in April.“The days of Todd Gurley just being the straight-up, every-down bell cow are probably over, just based on his knee, his age, the position, the amount of carries he’s had.” Rapoport said. “...This is a team that is clearly ready to spread the ball around.”Gurley, entering his fifth season, has carried the ball an average of 260.5 times in each of his first four seasons. In 2018, he missed the final two games of the regular season but still ran 256 times - good for fourth in the NFL. He turns 25 in August.The running back saw limited action in the NFC championship game and in Super Bowl LIII, carrying the ball just 15 times combined. He hasn’t participated in on-field workouts during offseason practices.“Of course, Gurley’s knee, the wear and tear on that knee, the surgically repaired knee, is something that everyone knows has been concerning to the team for some time,” Rapoport said.“All they really want is for Gurley to come back when the season begins when it’s really time to go to be 100 percent. What they don’t want is to have all those questions they had leading up the Super Bowl repeat before Week 1.”Panthers sign DT McCoyFree agent defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and the Carolina Panthers agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, multiple media outlets reported.The contract will pay as much as $10.25 million and includes a $4 million signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Charlotte Observer cited sources indicating that the deal is worth a minimum of $8.5 million.McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, had visited the Panthers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Schefter said quarterback Cam Newton helped to sway him toward the Panthers, adding the chance to play his former team - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - twice a year could have been an incentive.McCoy, the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, was released by the Buccaneers on May 20 with three years left on his contract. The deal called for him to make $13 million in base pay this season. The original contract was for six years and $95.2 million.The Tampa Bay Times reported McCoy, 31, drew bids from 10 teams with offers as high as $11 million annually.Carolina freed up $9 million in salary-cap space in the past week by releasing offensive tackle Matt Kalil and restructuring the contract of wide receiver Torrey Smith, Schefter reported.