
ALAMEDA – Raiders running back Latavius Murray couldn’t commit to playing Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. He said that remains outside of his control.
Signs that he’ll be able to seem positive at this point, as he moves through the practice week and the NFL’s concussion protocol.
“I can’t make a call on what their plans are, but I feel good and have been progressing great through the week,” Murray said before Thursday’s practice. “It’s a matter of making a decision that isn’t up to me.”
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Murray said he is symptom free after being concussed by a helmet-to-helmet hit from former Raider, current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell, in a 38-35 loss at Heinz Field.
He was able to speak to the press on Thursday, meaning he has been cleared for physicality. He wouldn’t commit to practicing later Thursday afternoon, though that seems probable.
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Murray was concussed last season and missed a game, but doesn’t consider this one as severe.
NFL
“With this one, I felt much better immediately,” Murray said. “It’s less severe. With a head injury you need to be careful regardless, but it doesn’t seem like anything major.”
Murray also said he didn’t take issue with Mitchell’s hit, which forced him to fumble in that game.
“It was a good hit,” Murray said. “I was contacted in the head, but it was a good hit. It’s football. I knew what I was signing up for.”
Murray felt okay after the hit, but was evaluated for a concussion and obviously did not return to the game.
“I slept well that night and, really, I felt good afterwards, too,” Murray said. “Those were all good signs.”
It would help the Raiders against Minnesota if Murray can play. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said the Raiders would use a running-back committee that played “to each player’s strengths” if Murray can’t go.
Outside of two fumbles in the Steelers game, Murray has been running extremely well. He has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over the last three games.
“We’re working hard on this run game and want to get better each week on the ground,” Murray said. “We’ve been doing that and doing it well. We need to continue to put good performances on tape and build off of what we do.”
Murray’s running style is effective, but some have questioned his positioning when running through traffic. He stands 6-foot-3, which leaves his body exposed if he’s running upright.
“Pad level is always good. Low man wins,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “You want to be low, you want to have your pad level down whenever it’s appropriate.”