Rams' Gurley (knee) could sit out vs. 49ers

Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley could be a bystander for the second straight game. Gurley missed his first game since his rookie season on Sunday in the Rams' 31-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Pro Bowl running back, who is dealing with inflammation in his left knee, participated in pregame drills before the team elected to err on the side of caution. "It's kind of the same place that we were at -- he came (in and) was feeling good today," Rams head coach Sean McVay said Monday. "We're just taking it a day at a time right now. (Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and our medical staff is going to do every to progressively just get Todd feeling back to normal. I know he's done a nice job with his rehab. So, no real updates, but we're just going to continue to take it day-to-day with Todd. "We want to do what's best for Todd most importantly and what's best for Todd is also what's best for our football team. We don't want to do anything where we're putting him in harm's way, if we feel like it could be something where we're putting him at risk. But if he's getting back, if he's feeling good, then the anticipation is getting him ready to go. But we're just going to take this one day at a time right now." Los Angeles would secure a first-round bye in the playoffs with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers (4-11), while a loss coupled with a Chicago Bears' win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday would send the Rams into the wild-card round. Backup C.J. Anderson, who was signed by Los Angeles on Tuesday, rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. Rams backup running back John Kelly added 10 carries for 40 yards while wide receivers Brandin Cooks (27 yards) and Robert Woods (15 yards, touchdown) and tight end Gerald Everett (16 yards) were used effectively on fly sweeps. "It was good to see what those guys did yesterday, but nothing changes with regards to our approach with Todd," McVay said. "If we can get him ready to go, then that's what we'll do and if not, then we'll just kind of play that by ear." Gurley has rushed for 1,251 yards and has 59 receptions for 580 yards this season en route to recording a league-best 21 touchdowns (17 rushing, four receiving). The 24-year-old Gurley is coming off a monstrous season in 2017 in which he led Los Angeles to the NFC West title. He became the first Rams player to win the AP Offensive Player of the Year award since Marshall Faulk in 2001. The former University of Georgia product led the NFL in touchdowns (19), points scored among non-kickers (114) and scrimmage yards (2,093) in addition to finishing second in rushing yards (1,305). He also topped the league's running backs in receiving yards with 788 and his average of 6.1 yards per touch was the best in the NFL. --S Lamarcus Joyner sustained an ankle injury against Arizona. The injury was not serious, head coach Sean McVay said. Joyner will be day to day. "Lamarcus, his ankle was good. It's going to be a day-to-day deal but everything checked out pretty clean. Got that thing rolled up on a little bit but I think the way that he attacks his rehab this week, we'll be day-to-day with him, but I expect him to be able to be in good shape. But we'll see how he responds when these guys get back in here on Wednesday." --RB C.J. Anderson missed his career single-game high by just one yard, rushing for 167 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. --DT Aaron Donald has 19.5 sacks this season, setting a Rams team record for most sacks in a season and the NFL record for the most sacks by an interior defensive lineman. Donald is three sacks from tying and 3.5 sacks from breaking Hall of Famer Michael Strahan's NFL sack record. --RB Todd Gurley is expected to be day-to-day after missing the Arizona Cardinals game with inflammation in his left knee.