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THOUSAND OAKS James Hurst Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley hopes there will be a time when the NFL does away with preseason games entirely, saying that “everyone’s dream is not to play in the preseason.”

In the meantime, Gurley will have to settle for Rams coach Sean McVay making his dream come true.

McVay said he could hold quarterback Jared Goff out of the team’s third preseason game against Houston on Saturday, while also confirming Gurley, center John Sullivan and left tackle Andrew Whitworth will not play as a precaution.

McVay indicated earlier in the week that Goff would play, but that was before right tackle Rob Havenstein sustained a minor ankle injury in practice. McVay is understandably wary of playing Goff behind an offensive line missing three starters against a Texans pass rush that features Jadeveon Clowney and J.J. Watt.

“When Rob tweaks his ankle, that definitely potentially alters it, especially when you’re talking about any team in general but specifically an excellent defense when you’re looking at guys like Watt and Clowney. I wouldn’t feel great about going against those guys without our line, but we’ll see what happens,” McVay said.

McVay has shown a propensity for caution in managing veteran players, going as far as holding out starters in Week 17 against San Francisco last season after winning the NFC West and securing a home playoff game. Outside linebacker Samson Ebukam and right guard Jamon Brown, who is suspended the first two games of the season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, are the only starters that played in the Rams’ first two preseason games.

Goff has no concerns if he goes into his third NFL season without playing a snap in the preseason. He appeared in three preseason games last year, McVay’s first season as head coach.

“Whatever they decide to do, I’m on board with. We got a lot of good work through training camp and through different situations that may come up this weekend that may happen, but I’m planning to play and we’ll see what happens Tanoh Kpassagnon Jersey ,” Goff said.

Asked if he needed preseason games to get used to contact, Goff said, “I’ll get hit plenty this year. I’ll adjust to it eventually.”

The decision to hold out Gurley reflects the significant role he has in McVay’s offense. Gurley led the league with 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 combined touchdown runs and receptions, and his 343 total touches trailed only Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell and Buffalo’s LeSean McVoy.

Gurley’s workload has been light for most of the offseason and training camp, but he said that is changing as the Rams turn their focus toward their season opener at Oakland on Sept. 10.

McVay believes the right course of action is to be careful with Gurley, pointing to how effective he was over the course of last season even with his heavy usage.

“You definitely don’t want to take away from the value of the preseason, so I don’t want that to be misunderstood by any stretch, but that risk-reward and also being mindful of getting Todd as fresh as possible,” McVay said. “I think that’s one of the things last year that enabled him to sustain and really get stronger as the season progressed was what a good job he did taking care of himself, being mindful of just kind of his maintenance program throughout the course of the year, especially with all of his touches. And we feel like this is going to put him on that track, and that was more important to us.”
Rookie receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are the Denver Broncos‘ new safety valves, applying the pressure but also relieving the burden on veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders .

”Those two guys, they came in like pros, they’re taking care of their business Dan Marino Jersey , they’re on time to everything, they’re making plays,” Thomas said Friday. ”So, they’re pushing us. And that’s good for us. We need it. We want to push each other and make each other better.”

While Sutton has made a splash at training camp so far with daily highlight-reel catches and Hamilton has drawn his share of applause, Thomas and Sanders are quietly having very good camps themselves.

Thomas’ stats have steadily declined every season since his peak in 2014, and his streak of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons ended last year when he finished 51 yards shy.

Sanders dealt with injuries and his two TD catches were his fewest since 2012.

Part of the problem in 2017 was that the Broncos had nobody around them – a third receiver, a tight end, a running back – who could really force teams to quit bracketing Thomas and Sanders.

That’s no longer the case .

In addition to Sutton and Hamilton, the Broncos added rookie running backs Royce Freeman, David Williams and Philip Lindsay (undrafted) along with another Big Ten tight end in Troy Fumagalli to go with Jake Butt, who missed his rookie season last year while recovering from knee surgery.

Sutton, Hamilton and Fumagalli are members of general manager John Elway’s already-celebrated draft class of 2018 that featured experience – all 10 players spent four years in school – and leadership – most were captains in college.

Safety Justin Simmons said he’s just like all the fans whooping and hollering at practice – he’s energized by and excited about the Broncos’ rookies.

”Oh, for sure. Especially Chubb,” Simmons said of first-round pick Bradley Chubb, whose ability to chase down quarterbacks ”makes my job 50 times easier.”

Sutton’s making his job harder.

”Oh yeah Sony Michel Jersey , Sutton’s been great. He’s been out here making plays,” Simmons said. ”He’s just another guy that’s just humble and hungry, coming in here ready to work.”

That’s been the theme of this year’s draft class, which also includes cornerback Isaac Yiadom, inside linebackers Keishan Bierria, Josey Jewell (who practiced Friday for the first time after pulling a hamstring in June) and guard Sam Jones.

Last season, several veterans took the 2017 draft class, which was filled with raw athleticism and projects, to task for their work ethic, complaining that too many of them came off as entitled.

This year’s class drew quick praise from the veterans.

”There’s no complaining,” defensive end Derek Wolfe said. ”That’s the one thing that you notice from an immature draft class, is that they complain a lot, whine and cry a lot. There’s none of that coming from this group.”

Humble. Hungry.

”It’s a mature class,” coach Vance Joseph said. ”It’s been seven or eight guys that have shown they can help us win.”

Sutton’s doing it with spectacular plays every day, and Hamilton’s sprinkling in his share, too.

”I’ll tell you what Steve Young Jersey , we’ve got some good rookies,” Sanders said. ”I was just over there with my family and Courtland just runs over to say, `Hey, I’m going to take your helmet.’ And that’s what we need.”

Players willing to pay their dues but eager to make their mark.

Also turning heads is Chubb, the fifth overall pick in the draft who reminds defensive tackle Domata Peko Sr. of superstar Von Miller .

”He’s quick, he’s strong and he can get to the passer. He’s disruptive and he’s willing to learn,” Peko said after getting his first glimpse of the 2018 class. ”He’s always talking to Von and asking, `Hey, what can I do?’ That’s good to see out of a rookie.”

Peko also singled out Sutton and Jewell as players he’s thrilled to play alongside.

”These guys are going to make a difference for us,” Peko said. ”They’re only going to help our team. I love our new guys.”

Notes: Simmons said the league’s new helmet rule was going to be the main topic when players meet with NFL officials visiting the Broncos to go over the new rule changes. … On the sixth day of training camp, QB Case Keenum was finally intercepted, by S Will Parks. ”He’s human,” Joseph said. … The Broncos signed WR Bryce Bobo, a rookie from Colorado, and designated WR Kenny Bell as waived/injured.

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