Latavius Murray had quite the season in 2022.
The veteran running back became a free agent last March but was not signed. The entire summer flew by with no offers as no teams invited him to training camp.
Then, after the season had started, the New Orleans Saints signed Murray to their practice squad in September. He was called up to the active roster in Week 4 and rushed 11 times for 57 yards and a touchdown in London.
The Denver Broncos then signed Murray off the Saints’ practice squad in Week 5. Denver had multiple injuries at running back last year, so a 32-year-old Murray ended up leading the team with 703 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 12 games (seven starts).
Murray went from out of the NFL to a practice squad to leading a team in rushing in a five-month span.
“At the end of last year, I finished off with Baltimore and I thought there was a possibility I would be back there and then the offseason starts and free agency opens up and guys are getting signed,” Murray recalled on Jan 8. “No call and then training camp beginning and you’re hoping for an opportunity there and again, no call. So yeah, there was doubt. You know, but just grateful for the opportunity. Glad I stayed patient, glad I stayed in shape, and was ready for an opportunity.”
Murray previously played under coach Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints from 2019-2020, and Payton spoke glowingly about Murray at the Super Bowl last week. That could be a sign that Payton is considering re-signing Murray, who is now scheduled to become a free agent again in March.
“The opportunity has been everything,” Murray said of getting a chance with Denver in 2022. “Again, I can’t put into words, there was a lot of doubt, a lot of uncertainty, I just was hoping that I would get an opportunity. I knew that, if it’s an injury or whatever the case may be, I may get an opportunity, I just didn’t know when and where that was going to be. So, for me to start this year on practice squad and just think I guess for anybody, just believe in yourself and don’t be discouraged and I think what’s meant to be will be.”
Murray told DNVR Sports at the Super Bowl that he’d like to re-sign with the Broncos, and with Javonte Williams facing a lengthy recovery timeline, Denver could use an experienced running back in 2023. Murray is now 33 years old, but a one-year, bargain contract would make sense for the Broncos. The veteran running back has a chance to parlay his 2022 opportunity into a second contract in Denver.
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