Latavius Murray, Sharrif Floyd to Miss Start of Training Camp

In a move not totally unexpected, Latavius Murray and Sharrif Floyd will miss the start of Minnesota Vikings training camp. This morning, the team placed Murray on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and Floyd on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.

Joining Murray on the PUP is rookie linebacker Shaan Washington, who is sidelined with a leg injury he suffered during Vikings minicamp.  Murray declared himself healthy upon his arrival to Mankato yesterday, but the PUP designation is one likely out of precaution by Eric Sugarman and team doctors.

As for Floyd, he’s still working back from a potentially career-threatening nerve issue in his knee. When head coach Mike Zimmer spoke to the media yesterday, he told reporters he’s heard Floyd is “improved,” but wouldn’t offer any further insight.

Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports Murray’s placement on the PUP is a procedural move by the Vikings. Murray’s “active” designation means he can resume practices whenever he’s deemed healthy during the preseason and can come off the PUP list at any time. It’s also a prerequisite to the regular season PUP list, which bars a player from practicing or playing the first six weeks of the year.

Floyd’s status is slightly more tricky. Because his injury is still a major question mark and he’s yet to test his knee in a live situation, there’s no timetable for his return. He’ll still count against the team’s 53-man roster total, and more importantly, there’s a chance he returns at some point during the regular season. If the Vikings had placed him on the ‘Reserve’ list, they’d be doing so with no confidence Floyd steps back onto the football field in 2017.

With Murray sidelined, at least in the interim, Dalvin Cook has a chance to stake his claim as the Vikings’ starting running back. Floyd wasn’t expected to jump into training camp immediately, meaning the defensive tackle position next to Linval Joseph is ripe for an intense training camp competition.