ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray, who has missed the past two games with a turf-toe injury on his right foot, will practice Wednesday in hopes of returning for Sunday’s game at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I have no doubt that it should be a good day for me,” Murray said Wednesday about this afternoon’s practice.
“Feeling good. Just excited to be able to go out there today and just get my feet wet again, you know?”
Murray last played in the Raiders’ 28-27 victory at the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 6. He has rushed for 172 yards on 40 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard have averaged a combined 3.6 yards per carry the past two games as the Raiders’ run game has stalled.
And while quarterback Derek Carr praised the job done by the 5-foot-8 rookies, Carr also acknowledged the offense has missed Murray.
“If you lose a starter, it’s always going to be hard on you,” Carr said following Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, in which Oakland rushed for a combined 65 yards.
“It’s going to be hard because Tay is such a good player, Pro Bowl running back. He had over 1,000 yards last year, been in some tough games, ran the ball really hard for us. You can never just replace people and just think, 'Yes, we got it.'”
Added the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Murray, who has a team-leading three rushing TDs: “I never want to be out. I want to be in there, obviously, every time we step on the field. It’s difficult, but I know it’s a part of the game. So, again, I’m ready to be out there now.”
Murray, a sixth-round draft pick out of Central Florida in 2013, spent his rookie season on injured reserve with a foot issue before playing in 15 games in 2014 and all 16 games last year.
This is the first time he has dealt with turf toe.
“It’s one of those things you definitely don’t want to allow to linger on and get worse,” Murray said.
“I’m just making sure I’m communicating with the trainers, being honest about everything. I think that’s what’s most important.”
