Murray expected to face Jaguars
Running back Latavius Murray was limited for a third straight practice Friday, but the Raiders expect him to play Sunday in Jacksonville. He missed the past two games with a turf toe injury.
“I thought he had a good week of practice,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “It was good to have him back.”
Oakland (4-2) gained 445 yards rushing on 76 carries the first three games (5.9-yard average), and 216 on 61 the past three (3.5). Murray was injured in the win over Baltimore on Oct. 2.
“I think the big thing is that with Murray, he’s a phenomenal back,” said Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley. “They have the ability to go different styles. He’s a big, strong, explosive back, and then they have speed. So the changeup that they can have on a defense is very challenging. It forces your defense to have different tackling plans for each guy they’re facing.”
“I mean, we’d love to be 13th (in the league) right now in our run game,” he said. The Jaguars are 31st. Road trip: The Raiders left Friday for 10 days, as they are staying in Sarasota, Fla., between their games at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
“I think it’s going to be great, I really do,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “Just to be out somewhere different with everybody. When you get those times at the hotel to be around each other, to eat every meal together (and) do those things, I think it’s nothing but good. Whenever you can spend as much time around each other as possible, it’s really good.”
Oakland is 3-0 on the road and 1-2 at home.