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As NFL.com's Kevin Patra noted earlier this week, the offseason questions about Todd Gurley remain a focal point in Los Angeles. After dubious usage in the final two games of the Rams' playoff runs, questions about the All-Pro running back's knee persist.

And while head coach Sean McVay reiterated during the NFL Scouting Combine that Gurley will not need offseason surgery, that doesn't mean the knee aren't concerns, including within the organization.

UPDATED INFO: Jeff Howe of TheAthletic.com reports that Gurley has arthritis in the knee.

CBSSports.com's John Breech, citing a team source, reports the Rams currently have Gurley on an offseason regimen in hopes of getting him completely healthy for the 2019 season. But if that doesn't work or if his knee regresses, the team may consider stem cell treatment for their star running back.

Although stem cell procedures haven't quite gone mainstream in the NFL, multiple former running backs have undergone the treatment, including Jamaal Charles and Knowshon Moreno. Both Charles and Moreno had the procedure done after tearing an ACL earlier in their football career (Gurley tore his ACL during his junior year at the University of Georgia in 2014).

McVay was asked about the possibility of a stem cell procedure during a one-on-one interview with Breech on Thursday and although he didn't confirm it, he did say that the team is looking at "new methods" to help Gurley with his ailing knee.

"As far as the stem cells, that's not something that's been communicated to me, but there is a program," McVay told Breech. "We've got these doctors and there's always new methods of staying as up-to-date as you can, and number one, the player has to feel good about it. Todd does such a good job of doing his own research and knowing what are the things [he] can do."

McVay also added that the team is open to using new advancements in medicine as long as Gurley is comfortable with it.

"I think every year provides a new opportunity based on the research and some of the medical advances to attack it in the right way," McVay said. "As long as Todd is feeling good about that, that's what we'll do."

Breech reiterated the one option that's not on the table right now is surgery.

In case you somehow missed it, Gurley's troublesome left knee became such an issue this year that it caused him to miss the final two games of the regular season. At the time, the Rams attributed Gurley's absence to soreness and inflammation. According to McVay, the team is hoping that they can get Gurley back at full strength this offseason.

"We're going to implement a plan to have him attack it to get that knee back to feeling full strength, feeling good based on just the amount of work that he's gotten," McVay said. "That would be no different whether he missed any games or not, though."

General manager Les Snead didn't deny that the team is worried about the amount of wear and tear on Gurley.

"I think where we have to go is to fast forward to now is with Todd, he's had a lot of carries since he's come in the league, a lot of yards, a lot of touchdowns things like that," Snead said Thursday. "Obviously, senior year, junior year, Georgia, (tore) the ACL, so over that time there's an element of wear and tear and I think we have to determine in probably two stages: are we going to give him the amount of load that he's had in the past or are we going to lessen that load to let's say keep him fresher for the season and for the seasons beyond.

"If you go that route, you have to have a good, let's call it Batman and Robin combination or add another superhero figure into that and figure how you're going to do it. We're in the process of figuring that out and I do think with Todd and his career -- it happens to a lot of young guys, all of a sudden they wake up ... and you're a little sorer than you were the day before. So, recovery, things like that have to come into it, but it's something we want to be intentional about and proactive."

The Rams brought in free agent C.J. Anderson during the final two games of the regular season with Gurley ailing.

Anderson brought a different power running element to L.A. and shared the backfield with Gurley during the playoffs. With Anderson set to hit the free-agent market, the Rams must decide if they will try to bring him back, rely on John Kelly and Malcolm Brown (coming off injury), or select another running back in the NFL draft.

Snead's comments, however, underscore that the Rams will have to monitor Gurley's knee situation and his workload moving forward in 2019.

The reasons for the concern are obvious.

Gurley became the highest-paid running back in NFL history back in July when he signed a four-year, $60 million extension that included $45 million in guaranteed money. When the Rams signed Gurley to the record-setting deal, they clearly weren't expecting their offense to turn into a running back by committee, but as Snead said, that's something that could happen if the 24-year-old's injury lingers into 2019.

And it's an issue of keen interest to fantasy owners this offseason. I'll continue to follow up as needed.