The bye week is coming at a good time for the Raiders’ Latavius Murray.
For the second straight week, the team’s No. 1 running back played very little down the stretch of Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the visiting Denver Broncos.
With the game still in doubt Sunday, Murray was on the bench while Roy Helu Jr., Marcel Reece and Jamize Olawale took turns replacing him on the field.
Murray carried the ball just 13 times for 39 yards against the Broncos, and the other running backs weren’t nearly as effective as Murray has shown he can be. Reece had one carry for 6 yards (but had seven catches for 49 and a touchdown), Helu had three for 6 and Olawale carried six times for 13 yards.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters after the game that Murray was available, but noted he was “banged up.” Murray injured his shoulder a week ago in the loss to the Bears in Chicago.
Now, the Raiders at 2-3 have a weekend off before taking on the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 25. That should give Murray a chance to get healthy again and be ready to resume his normal workload.
Against the Broncos, Murray had just two carries in the second half after picking up 50 yards on 14 touches in the first two quarters.
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But his shoulder, which limited him in practice in the week leading up to the game, reportedly required treatment during the game.
The Raiders coaching staff decided to hold him out and let him get healthy for the long haul.
“It was bothering me a little bit,” Murray told the media after Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. “Roy stepped in, and Marcel, and we mixed in different personnel. I knew I was going to play, but things happen.”
