MANKATO — With rookie Dalvin Cook looking good, Latavius Murray is behind in the race to be the Vikings’ starting running back.

Following March 22 surgery on his right ankle, Murray sat out spring drills and has been on the physically unable to perform list since he was eligible July 24 to participate in his first practice at training camp.

“It’s very frustrating to not be a part of what the guys got going on,” Murray said Monday. “I know I’m behind the 8-ball. That’s the most frustrating part.”

The Vikings signed Murray to a three-year, $15 million contract six days before his surgery. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he’s only seen Murray play on tape in previous seasons with Oakland, and he’s appearing to get antsy with the running back still sidelined.

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Vikings’ history of road losses vs. Colts doesn’t bode well Murray and Zimmer both say there’s no timetable for his return. Murray is attending meetings at camp at Minnesota State Mankato.

“He is a smart guy, but he needs to get out there” on the practice field, Zimmer said.

Murray said he doesn’t know if he will be cleared for any part of camp or whether he’ll play in preseason games. The only assurance he gave is he will be off the PUP list by the Sept. 11 opener against New Orleans.

“Hopefully, before obviously the (regular) season,” Murray said of his return. “We’ve just been taking it a day at a time. There’s good and bad days, and anybody going through rehab knows that hopefully I’ll just have a good amount of good days until they feel comfortable to put me out there.

“If I’m not healthy, there’s no point in me being out there. If I’m not good out there, I can’t help the team regardless.”

Meanwhile, Cook has been looking good in practice. The former Florida State star is running the majority of plays with the first team, even with veteran Jerick McKinnon back on the field after a leg injury. McKinnon, who worked with the first team in the spring and during his first practice in camp last Thursday, got hurt in that workout and missed the next two days.

Still, the rookie won’t say he’s the leading candidate to replace the departed Adrian Peterson.

“No,” Cook said. “They’re my teammates. I want them all to be out there (competing). I learn a lot from these guys in the meeting room every day.”

Murray has been giving Cook plenty of pointers.

“He looks really good; I think he’s going to be a great player,” Murray said. “It’s been pretty cool to watch him. My job is to do anything I can to make him the best player he can be, and at the end of the day the way he performs has nothing to do with or affect the way I should go out and work.”

Despite his three-year contract, Murray admits he is feeling some urgency this season. He has no guaranteed money in the final two seasons of his deal, so it feels like a contract year for him.

“It does in a sense,” Murray said. “When I was out in Oakland (last year), it felt the same way, and here it obviously feels that way now more than ever, especially with the injury and rehabbing. But it comes down to me getting healthy first.”