Former Vikings RB Continues His NFL Journey, Joining the Buffalo Bills
The Minnesota Vikings have been spoiled with running back talent over the years, particularly recently with both Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook blessing the franchise with their presences over the past 15 years. However, there was a bit of a transition period between the two of them in 2017 and 2018 where Peterson left the team, and Cook was going through his early career injuries.
The player that filled that void was Latavius Murray, but throughout his NFL career, he has been a bit of a journeyman. On Monday, the former Vikings RB joined his sixth NFL team, signing with the Buffalo Bills as reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Murray was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 181st overall pick. He spent that 2013 season on injured reserve, but in 2014, he played 15 games (including three starts), and he recorded 82 carries for 424 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also added 17 receptions for 143 yards. The following season in 2015, he recorded 1042 rushing yards and made his first and only Pro Bowl to this point in his career.
The 2013 draft pick spent four years in Oakland before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. With that Vikings team, he helped calm the waters in the backfield for Minnesota, and despite second-round pick Dalvin Cook missing the final 12 games of the year, Murray helped the Vikings make the NFC Championship game by starting 11 games and appearing in all 16, recording 266 carries, 842 yards, and 8 touchdowns.
The production took a step back in the playoffs, though. In Minnesota’s two playoff games, Murray recorded 25 carries for just 68 yards at a clip of 2.7 yards per carry, He also added a touchdown in the Divisional round win over the New Orleans Saints.
In 2018, Murray stepped back into more of an RB2 role for the Vikings when Dalvin Cook took over the starting role in the second half of the season, but the veteran back still played all 16 games and made six starts. During that 2018 season, he recorded 140 carries for 578 yards and 6 touchdowns. Following that 2018 season, Murray joined the New Orleans Saints, taking a similar role behind Alvin Kamara that he had behind Dalvin Cook.
Prior to joining the Bills, he’s also had stints with the Ravens and Broncos. In all, the running back has played 135 games and has recorded 1481 carries for 6252 yards and 55 touchdowns. He now joins a Bills backfield that also has James Cook, Damien Harris, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Mims, and Reggie Gilliam vying for snaps this season.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.