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Focus on Rams’ Goff bodes well for Gurley

Rams running back Todd Gurley, left, shown with quarterback Jared Goff, showed signs of resurgence in a victory over the New York Jets.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The focus Sunday — at the Coliseum and for many NFL fans — will be on Rams quarterback Jared Goff as the No. 1 pick in the draft makes a must-see debut against the Miami Dolphins.

That might bode well for Todd Gurley.

The Rams running back has been the focal point of opposing defenses that have prevented him from breaking out.

Can Goff jump-start the offense?

“I don’t know,” Gurley said Friday. “You’re asking the wrong one — you’re just going to have to find out on Sunday, just like I am.”

Gurley, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year last season, showed signs of resurgence in last week’s 9-6 victory over the New York Jets.

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It did not start well: Gurley gained only 10 yards in 10 carries in the first half. But he ran for 54 yards in 11 second-half carries and helped set up two field goals.

“It took us a half to get there,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “We’re hoping to build off that momentum and carry it over to the first half this week.”

Gurley played through a thigh injury against the Jets and was listed as limited on the injury report Friday because of the same issue.

Gurley’s success against the Dolphins could depend on Goff’s effectiveness passing the ball.

Coach Jeff Fisher joked that the rookie might not be asked to do much.

“We’ll put him under center and we’ll hand it off,” Fisher said, “and he’ll have a game where he doesn’t have to throw it.”

That’s not likely to happen with an offensive line that has been unable to spring Gurley.

Gurley is averaging 57.2 yards rushing per game and 3.1 yards per carry, statistics that pale in comparison to Miami running back Jay Ajayi.

Ajayi, a second-year pro who played at Boise State, has twice rushed for more than 200 yards in a game this season.

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He is averaging 90.6 yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry.

“They’ll get everybody blocked,” Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said of the Dolphins. “There will be one that they can’t block and that running back takes it upon him to block by making him miss or just running over him.”

Quinn returns to practice

Defensive end Robert Quinn practiced for the first time since his release from the hospital Tuesday.

“I’m doing all right,” he said.

Quinn, 26, was admitted to the hospital after paramedics responded to call from his Agoura home on Monday morning. Family members called 911 because Quinn was suffering from what they believed to be an apparent seizure, according to a recording of the call.

The two-time Pro Bowl player said Friday that doctors told him the episode stemmed from a hydration issue. It was not, he said, related to a dime-sized tumor at the top of his spinal cavity that was diagnosed in high school.

“Drink more water,” he said. “That’s basically what they told me. Drink some more water.”

Quinn played against the Jets and, Fisher said this week, was fine on the bus ride from Los Angeles International Airport to the team’s training facility in Thousand Oaks.

But Quinn was stricken the next morning.

“It kind of just overwhelmed me,” he said.

The experience was “scary, bar none,” he said, but added that he was feeling better and making sure he was drinking plenty of water.

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“It’s really when you’re off the field that you load up on the hydration,” he said. “I’m going to pay a little more attention to my hydration habits off the field.”

Quinn’s status for Sunday’s game will be determined by doctors, Fisher and “ultimately how I feel,” he said.

“Hopefully I can get out there on Sunday and be somewhat productive,” he said. “If not, well the guys got to rally up and keep it going.”

Quick hits

The Rams put receiver Nelson Spruce on injured reserve, ending his season. Spruce, an undrafted free agent who played at Colorado, made the roster despite playing in only one exhibition. He caught six passes, including one for a touchdown, against the Dallas Cowboys but suffered a knee injury. He was on track to return during the bye week but suffered a calf injury. The Rams added defensive back Blake Countess from the practice squad and signed defensive end Larry Jones to the practice squad. ... Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree traveled to Georgia on Thursday to oversee his annual turkey drive in Newnan, Ga. Ogletree started the event in 2014. He returned in time for practice on Friday.

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