Atlanta Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Ito Smith is the leader of the team that is returning right now.
That means Todd Gurley will play as a backup after managing just 34 yards to rush into his last three games, including a minus-1 yard attempt in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers.
Morris said the relegation for Gurley is not related to the knee – he missed a game against the Las Vegas Raiders last month due to injury – and more about Smith’s game.
“Ito’s performance,” Morris said when asked why the roles for both players changed. “Ito played so well. When he got chances, he made yards.”
Morris said he has implemented the change slowly in recent weeks and spoke with both players about changing roles.
Smith rushed for 65 yards in 12 attempts (an average of 5.42 yards) and a touchdown in place of Gurley in that Week 12 victory over the Raiders and has an average of 4.3 yards per rushing attempt this season. Overall, he rushed for 213 yards in 12 games.
Gurley, in his first season with the Falcons, rushed for 644 yards and nine touchdowns and averaged 3.5 yards per carry.