MANKATO — The Vikings have had plenty of time to get a look at their rookie running back in training camp. Now, a couple days before they break camp, they'll get to see their other new backfield acquisition.
The team activated running back Latavius Murray from the physically-unable-to-perform list on Monday, in time for the Vikings' penultimate practice in Mankato. Murray, who is scheduled to participate in Monday afternoon's practice, will do his first on-field team work since signing with the Vikings in March.
He had surgery on his right ankle on March 22, six days after signing with the Vikings. The team said in a statement at the time it knew about Murray's need for surgery when it signed him, and expected he'd be ready in time for training camp. While Murray waited to be cleared for a return, though, the Vikings had plenty of time to evaluate second-round pick Dalvin Cook, who has received most of the snaps in the Vikings' first-team offense.
It remains to be seen how much Murray will do in the Vikings' preseason opener in Buffalo on Thursday night, but coach Mike Zimmer made it clear last Monday that Murray needs to get on the field.
The Vikings will be able to incorporate the former Raiders running back into their offense now, as they spend the next month trying to figure out the proper share of the workload for him, Cook and Jerick McKinnon.
