ALAMEDA — Running back Latavius Murray didn’t pass the final test of the league-mandated protocol for players who suffer a concussion, which makes him ineligible to play against the St. Louis Rams.

Murray said Wednesday that he was “feeling better each day.” Sure enough, he practiced that day, as well as Thursday. On Friday, he didn’t participate in practice at all because he failed the final test.

Players don’t need to pass all the concussion protocol tests before they are cleared to practice on a limited basis. The guidelines for being cleared to play in a game are stricter.

Murray’s absence means Darren McFadden, Maurice Jones-Drew and Marcel Reece will handle the workload in the running game.

Raiders coach Tony Sparano said Friday that the carries in the Rams game will be doled out based on “flow” of the game and the situation.

Fans got a brief glimpse of Raiders second-year back Murray against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 20. Murray whet their appetite with 112 yards and two touchdowns on only four carries before his cameo ended with the concussion.

Therefore, it’s going to be more than a week more before Murray gets another chance to show that he merits consideration for the role of featured back.

Murray scored on 90- and 11-yard runs in a 24-20 victory over the Chiefs. That breathed much-needed life into a Raiders running game that was, by far, the least productive in the league.

Veterans McFadden and Jones-Drew, who were expected to give the Raiders a formidable one-two punch, have instead struggled. McFadden has averaged 3.4 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns. Jones-Drew amassed 69 yards and no touchdowns on 36 carries in Oakland’s first 11 games.

Hence, fans were eager to get a long look at Murray. It didn’t take long for Murray to provide visions of what could have been and what might be.

Then came a helmet-to-helmet collision with Chiefs safety Kurt Coleman on Murray’s fourth carry. Murray fumbled as a result of the blow, suffered a concussion and exited the game.

Cornerback TJ Carrie (ankle) and safety Larry Asante (shoulder) are listed as probable for Sunday’s game. Left guard Gabe Jackson (knee) was limited in practice Friday, and he is listed as questionable for the Rams game. Cornerbacks Carlos Rogers (knee) and Neiko Thorpe (hand) and safety Jonathan Dowling (back) also won’t play against the Rams.

Carrie’s expected return Sunday gives the Raiders the prospect of getting back their top punt returner. Veteran Charles Woodson replaced Denarius Moore in the Chiefs game after Moore muffed a punt. Sparano refused to shed any light on who is going to return punts and kickoffs against the Rams. Murray handled kickoff return duty against the Chiefs until his injury. McFadden replaced him for the remainder of the game.

Sparano said he and the Raiders are “going to take our time” and make sure wide receiver Rod Streater is “ready to go” before they activate him to the 53-man roster. Streater hasn’t played since Sept. 21, when he suffered a broken left foot. He rejoined his teammates at practice Monday.

Don’t look now, but the Raiders suddenly are one of the toughest teams to run the ball against. The Raiders are 25th against the run in terms of average yards per game (126.8). However, a large part of that owes to teams averaging 33 carries per game against the Raiders, second most in the league. In terms of yards per carry allowed, the Raiders are stingier than all but six teams at an average of 3.8. That figure has improved each season under defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, from 4.3 in 2012 to 3.9 last season.

Rams defensive end Chris Long hasn’t played in a game since he suffered an injured left ankle in the team’s regular-season opener. He has the Raiders game targeted for his return. That seems rather fitting, given Long’s father Howie played for the Raiders his entire career. Chris Long was the second pick of the 2008 NFL draft. He has 50½ sacks during his career. He played in 97 straight games before he got hurt against the Minnesota Vikings and needed surgery to repair the damage. When he’s healthy, Long and Robert Quinn comprise one of the best end tandems in the league.