MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings will give running back Latavius Murray at least a little more time to recover from ankle surgery before he gets onto the field at training camp.
The Vikings placed Murray on the physically unable to perform list on Monday as they began three days of early work for quarterbacks, rookies and injured players. Murray, who had surgery in March to clean up a lingering ankle injury from last season, missed the Vikings' entire offseason program, and it remains to be seen whether he'll return from the PUP list when the Vikings have their first full-squad practice Thursday.
"It’s very difficult, because those [other] guys, they have the upper hand," Murray said. "They’ve been out there practicing. Dalvin [Cook], he’s been in the system. It’s one thing for me to watch from the sideline, but when you’re in it, it’s much easier to learn when you’re able to make the mistakes that I can only see. I would say that they’re ahead of the game right now, so when I do come back I have some making up to do. I have to bust my behind to make sure I set myself apart."
The Vikings signed Murray to a three-year deal in March, effectively signaling the end of Adrian Peterson's time in Minnesota. They then used a second-round draft pick on Cook, who will compete with Murray and Jerick McKinnon for playing time in the Vikings' revamped backfield.
Minnesota also put defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd on the non-football injury list as he continues to work through the nerve issues he has battled since having surgery on his right knee last September. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Sunday that Floyd has "improved," but a timetable for the former first-round pick's return to the field remains unclear.
