Todd Gurley has handled most of the Rams’ rushing duties through six games, receiving 123 of the team’s 172 carries on the season. Malcolm Brown and Tavon Austin have spelled him on occasion, but it’s mainly been Gurley handling the workload this year – and rightfully so.

The Rams, however, could add a dynamic pass-catching weapon to the backfield in the coming weeks. Lance Dunbar began the season on the PUP list, forcing him to sit out the first six games. With the Rams entering Week 7, he can now begin practicing.

The team has a five-week window to allow Dunbar to practice. If he doesn’t return in that time period, he’ll remain on the PUP list for the remainder of the season. Once he does begin practicing, the Rams have 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster. If he isn’t activated, he’ll stay on the PUP list for – you guessed it – the rest of the season.

Sean McVay said Monday that Dunbar is healthy and “doing really well,” but the team hasn’t made a decision as to when it’ll allow him to begin practicing.

“That’s a decision that we’re going to make. He’s available to start practicing this week and then really, you’ve got a clock that starts,” McVay said. “I’m actually going to get with Les (Snead) after this and we’re going to discuss when to start that clock. Whether it’ll be this week where he can start practicing or whether we wait until after the bye. There’s a handful of things involved in that discussion, but that’s something that we’ll have to make a decision on here very shortly.”

Dunbar is a receiving specialist at running back, but he’s been unable to stay healthy in recent years. In the past three years, he’s played 33 games, all of which came with the Cowboys. He caught 55 passes for 554 yards in that span, carrying it just 43 times.

He’s a similar player to Austin, without the elite quickness and straight-line speed, and could be a valuable third-down guy when Gurley needs a breather. It sounds like the Rams will activate him at some point, but whether that happens this week or after the bye remains to be seen.