LOS ANGELES -- Another week, another struggle for Todd Gurley.

The Los Angeles Rams' running back was held to 48 rushing yards in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers, marking the 15th time in the last 16 games he has been held below 100 yards.

Once again, he also didn't get the workload.

Todd Gurley ran for just 48 yards Sunday against the Panthers, the 15th time in 16 games he's been held under 100 rushing yards. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Gurley received only 12 carries in what was a close game throughout, two weeks after getting only 15 carries in a loss to the New York Giants and three weeks after getting only 14 carries in a loss to the Detroit Lions. Facing a Panthers defense that had allowed the NFL's fewest rushing yards per carry, Gurley got the ball on back-to-back snaps only once -- on the Rams' first drive of the game.

Down the stretch, as the Rams put together their only touchdown in the final seconds, Gurley remained on the sideline because, as Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, "Benny [Cunningham] is our two-minute back."

"I don’t control the play-calling," said Gurley, who also was targeted five times as a receiver, hauling in four catches for 26 yards. "Obviously everybody wants the ball in their hands, but it’s a team game. I trust in my guys, just like they trust in me.”

Gurley, drafted 10th overall out of Georgia, burst onto the scene as a rookie, averaging a record 142 rushing yards per game in his first four starts. Since then, he's averaging 61 yards per game. This year, he's on pace for a total of 902, well below the 1,106 yards he gained in only 13 games in 2015. It's an even bigger issue than the Rams' quarterback situation, though it's probably also tied in.

"We need to find a way to get that together, or else it's going to be a long season," Rams left guard Rodger Saffold said of the running game.

"They're taking the run away with respect to the fronts and the stunting, so we pick it up and throw it," Fisher added. "It's not a Todd thing; it's not a personal thing from Todd. You can see how explosive he is when he gets the ball in his hands."

He may need it more often.