With first-round running back Todd Gurley on the shelf, Tre Mason's availability for the St. Louis Rams season opener is even more vital. It seems Rams fans may be set for some good news. Mason, dealing with the lingering effects of a hamstring injury, is reportedly set to take the field for Week One, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
The Rams open upper their 2015 campaign against the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks at home. With the team taking a cautious approach to Gurley's return from an ACL injury, Mason has found his way to the top of the St. Louis running back depth chart by default.
A third-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mason quickly made his presence felt for the Rams, dethroning Zac Stacy as the starter and racking up 765 rushing yards and 148 receiving yards in just 12 games. The Gurley selection in the 2015 NFL Draft seemed like a head scratcher considering Mason's rookie year output, but in this day and age of NFL offenses predicated on running games that feature more than one back, Gurley and Mason, once they're finally both healthy, should create quite the 1-2 punch for St. Louis.
For the time being though, Rams fans will have to hope that Mason and B.J. Cunningham are enough to get the team through.
Elsewhere, Cole also reports that San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green is progressing and the team now "expects" that he'll be able to suit up for Week One against the Detroit Lions. Green, finally set to take the reins of the Chargers tight end depth chart after Antonio Gates' suspension, suffered a head injury earlier this week and was examined for a concussion.
Chargers sources indicated to Cole that Green is "fine" and that they don't believe he'll suffer any lingering effects from the injury.
The 25-year-old Green has just 40 receptions and 658 yards to his name over three professional seasons. He brings an abundance of athleticism to the tight end position, but simply hasn't been able to push his way past the ageless Gates to this point.
