Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews came to Todd Gurley’s defense Saturday after reports circulated that the running back wouldn’t let NFL teams examine his surgically-repaired knee at the NFL Combine.

As a junior in 2014, he tore his ACL Nov. 15 against Auburn, undergoing season-ending surgery Nov. 26.

Gurley declined to participate in the medical portion of this week’s Combine, prompting some speculation that it may hurt his draft stock.

“I heard some fuss that Gurley wouldn’t let teams examine him and that’s just totally misleading,” Andrews said, according to ESPN.com.

“The team physicians I have spoken with who are there — and I have spoken to a bunch of them — were all happy about what they saw. I mean, they’re smart enough to know you can’t have 32 teams pulling and tugging on a knee just 3½ months removed from surgery. But the doctors I spoke with said he looked great and I’d say he’s probably six weeks ahead with his recovery.”

Gurley projected as a likely first-round pick before the injury despite the fact that no running back got drafted in the first round the last two years. Current projections of his recovery make it likely he’ll be able to participate in training camp preseason practice late this summer, an important distinction that could influence whether he’s drafted at the end of the first round or slides deeper into the second round.

The former Bulldogs running back averaged 6.4 yards per carry during his college career and ran for 36 touchdowns in less than three complete seasons.

“Gurley’s quad muscle is way ahead of what you would expect even at this stage and that’s vital to a good recovery, as you know,” Andrews said, according to ESPN. “The Georgia trainer, Ron Courson, did a great job the first six weeks post-surgery and then Todd came here (at he Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Fla.) and I was very happy before he left for Indianapolis.

“He’s been running on a treadmill, running underwater, he’s never had any swelling and these teams will get to see just how much more progress he will continue to make before the draft (April 30-May 2).”

ESPN also reported that at least one team doctor felt very encouraged at Gurley’s prognosis based on the available information.

The medical check at the Combine is infamous because of its depth and breadth. (Just before impressing during his throwing workout Saturday, former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston contended with reports of shoulder weakness that surfaced during his medical exam in Indianapolis.)

After speaking to Gurley off-camera, the NFL Network broadcast on Saturday reported that Gurley didn’t want to risk 32 different NFL teams having doctors poke and prod at his knee just months after a major surgery, though it’s unclear how much of that report was speculative.

Regardless of where he’s selected in the draft, Gurley will have a chance to make a name for himself as an NFL player in 2015 assuming his recovery continues the way Andrews seems to think it will.

Gurley already is jogging, according to USA Today. The publication suggested that Gurley will not be ready to run or fully participate in drills by the time of Georgia’s pro day on March 18.

“I’m definitely not Adrian Peterson,” Gurley said, according to USA Today. “That guy is a freak of nature. But my goal is to be a freak of nature as well. … My goal is to try to get back as fast as possible. But I’m not going to rush anything.

“I definitely have the heart to do it. What type of back I was over the past few years, I’m going to work as hard as possible to be that guy when I come back.”