LOS ANGELES – Todd Gurley is not fond of playing on Thursday night.

“Nah, it’s probably the dumbest thing ever,” the Rams star running back said after Sunday’s work day at the Coliseum, looking ahead to a short week with the Vikings coming in four days.

“But, whatever, we’ve got a game and Minnesota’s got a game as well. So, we’ve both got to show up and play.”

Reminders of the tight schedule were on full display in the Rams locker room following the 35-23 victory against the Chargers in the so-called “Battle of LA.” A dozen massage tables were stationed throughout the locker room and players were instructed to cut interviews short in order to begin near-immediate recovery tasks.

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In the middle of the room, Rams strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath barked military-style commands while several massage therapists worked the bodies of players laying on tables.

The Rams (3-0) racked up 521 yards, with Jared Goff throwing for 354 yards with 3 TDs and an INT and Gurley rushing for 105 yards. The special teams unit produced a touchdown off a blocked punt in the end zone and the defense came up with clutch stops down the stretch and a key takeaway.

It was a complete win worth celebrating. But there’s no time for a 24-hour rule.

“Minnesota starts now!” Rath extolled. “Let’s start the recovery process!”

This plan has been tested – and worked – before. Last year, the Rams beat the 49ers 41-39 in a thriller that marked the highest-scoring Thursday Night Football game ever.

Thus, the postgame massage tables that you don’t see for a Sunday-to-Sunday regimen.

“This week will all be about above-the-neck, anyway,” Rams coach Sean McVay told USA TODAY Sports. “The mental. So how can we get guys as recovered and as ready to go after what was a real physical game?”

The Rams had other, unwanted reminders of the physical toll of the NFL: Elite cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters were both knocked out of the game with what the team announced as ankle injuries.

A short week won’t be ideal for the corners, and the Rams are working with contingency plans that include nickel back Sam Shields and backups Troy Hill and Nickell Robey-Coleman.

With so much going right for what looks to be the NFL’s most complete team, the Rams are subject to sudden adversity like any team in the league.

“We don’t know how long those guys will be out,” McVay said. “It’s temporary adversity.”

Which is even worse on a short week.

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.