Todd Gurley is taking his first contact in practice this week playing the "Beast Mode" role of Marshawn Lynch on the scout team as the St. Louis Rams prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks.

Gurley won't be tackled to the ground, but he will be "bumped" and "thudded", which serves as a test of his readiness for the next phase. 

Gurley is expected to appear in games within the next month if he has no setbacks.

The Rams and other NFL teams believe Gurley is the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson went seventh overall in 2007.

The Seahawks even rated Gurley as the best player in the 2015 NFL Draft.