The Rams signed running back Lance Dunbar as a free agent in the offseason with the hope he could add another dimension to the offense.
Unfortunately for the club, Dunbar has essentially been sidelined since the early goings of the offseason program. And now that is expected to continue at least six weeks into the regular season, as head coach Sean McVay said this week Dunbar is expected to remain on the physically unable to perform list.
"He's continuing to work — rehabbing with [Director/Sports Medicine and Performance] Reggie [Scott] and his staff and doing a great job," McVay said. "He's been a joy to be around in the meeting room. Unfortunately, hasn't been able to take part in a lot of the stuff on the field that we anticipated, but he's making the most of his situation and that's kind of where we're out right now."
Prior to signing with the Rams, Dunbar spent the first five years of his career with the Cowboys. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2015, but was healthy enough to play the 2016 season as a backup — though he was overshadowed at the position group by Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris.
Los Angeles placed Dunbar on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp in July. If a player is medically cleared to practice at any point in the preseason, he's eligible to come off PUP at that point. But if he is not medically cleared at the start of the regular season, then he is ineligible to come off the list for the first six weeks.
Though Dunbar's sidelined, McVay said he likes the depth the team has assembled at running back behind Todd Gurley with players like Malcolm Brown, Justin Davis, and Aaron Green under position coach Skip Peete.
"I think Malcolm did a good job kind of stepping up in Week 2 from what I know for him was a disappointing Week 1. I thought Justin did a good job while he was able to make some explosive [plays] against the Cowboys, we've got to take better care of the football and I thought he did a good job with that," McVay said. "I think those guys have done a good job in practice and we're looking to continue to evaluate those guys for the next couple weeks. So far, I've been pleased with what coach Peete has done with that group."
