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Latavius Murray is the owner the first two rushing touchdowns this season against the Kansas City Chiefs, an average gain of 11.9 yards per carry and the fourth-longest run from scrimmage in franchise history.



But the second-year running back is also being evaluated for a concussion on a play in which he fumbled and coach Tony Sparano Friday seemed hesitant to proclaim Murray to be the Raiders’ feature back.

Murray had 112 yards on four carries, with touchdowns of 11 and 90 yards in a 24-20 win over the Chiefs. With just under six minutes to go in the half, Murray took a helmet-to-helmet blow from Kurt Coleman in a play in the tackle box, with center Stefen Wisniewski jumping on the resulting fumble.

“I know what he did, but he played nine plays and unfortunately got hurt. He had a heck of a run,” Sparano said at his weekly press conference. “He also had the ball out one time which we need to get corrected.”

Sparano said Murray will indeed get additional work when healthy, and said his ascension to getting more carries is earned through practice.

“Like any young player there is a progress you’ve got to see before you feel like you’re going to put him out there in those situations,” Sparano said. “I’ve had to see that in practice, and little by little I’ve seen it and this has kind of been where it has gone.”

Players were off Friday and will also take Saturday and Sunday off before practicing on Monday and then taking taking Tuesday off. Preparations begin in earnest on Wednesday for a road game against the St. Louis Rams Sept. 30.

Fullback Marcel Reece, who equaled his season total of carries in the final drive with seven (for 34 yards), is another back likely to cut into the work of Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, both of whom have struggled to get consistent yardage.

“I had him involved the week before, but it never came full circle because of the number of attempts,” Sparano said. “I felt it was an opportunity for a big back. The runs we were going to make last night were downhill, unpopular between-the-tackle runs. I felt Marcel could give us something there.”

— Sparano didn’t see the humor in the premature sack celebration of linebackers and Khalil Mack which forced the Raiders to stop the clock on a time out by Justin Tuck (Sparano was also gesturing for a time out) with 28 seconds to play.

Disaster was averted when Alex Smith threw incomplete on fourth-and-13, and Sparano knew the ramifications if the play had cost the Raiders the game.

“I don’t chuckle over it, no,” Sparano said. “I can just imagine what the headline would be today.”

— During his time as a head coach in Miami and as a line coach in Dallas, Sparano said he has been awarded the game ball before, but the one given to him by tackle Donald Penn on behalf of the team has a special meaning.

“I say that because of what this team has gone through and how far we’ve come and how much the guys have stayed together in the locker room,” Sparano said. “But really, they’re the ones that deserve the game balls.”

— With fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs 43-yard line and with all three timeouts, Sparano opted to go for the first down rather than attempt to punt the Chiefs inside the 10-yard line.

Derek Carr responded with a 1-yard gain on a quarterback sneak and later converted a third-and-1 on the same play during the game-winning drive.

“That was our best chance to win the game right there,” Sparano said. “I felt like we had some real momentum going at that point.”

Short-yardage plays have been a problem for the Raiders this season when handing the ball to a running back. Sparano said Carr assured him he would get the yard on fourth-and-1.

“We felt like we were getting good push inside rather than take the ball off the line of scrimmage,” Sparano said.

— The Raiders are optimistic about having left guard Gabe Jackson (knee) and cornerback/return specialist TJ Carrie (ankle) ready to face the Rams, Sparano said.