Latavius Murray was reminded this week that he rushed for just 97 yards in the Vikings’ first six games.

“That’s terrible,’’ Murray said.

Murray, though, has made up for it. In Minnesota’s last 10 games, the running back has gained 745 yards. If Murray had that pace for the entire season, he would have rushed for a career-high 1,192 yards.

Murray wasn’t a starter until after Dalvin Cook went down in Week 4 with a knee injury. Even after moving into the lineup, he had just 59 yards on 28 carries in Weeks 5 and 6 for a meager average of 2.2 yards per carry.

Murray’s early-season struggles could be traced to a less-than-speedy recovery from right ankle surgery in March. He missed all of spring drills, the first two weeks of training camp and the first two preseason games. Then it took a while to get into the groove.

“Regardless of being the starter or not being the starter, the reps I was getting (early in the season) weren’t as effective, weren’t as productive as I wanted them to be,’’ said Murray, who signed a three-year, $15 million contract as a free agent last March. “You can sit here and talk about the injury I had and what not, but I made the decision to be out there, to tell them I wanted to be out there and I was healthy.

“For me, as long as I’m out on that field I want to be productive. As the season went on, I was able to get stronger and get better as a player.”

Murray first broke loose with 113 yards in Week 7 against Baltimore. In the last three games, he has been a workhorse, carrying 61 times for 256 yards, including 111 in last Sunday’s regular season-finale against Chicago.

So is Murray, whose 842 yards rushing exceeded his total of 788 last year with Oakland, playing his best ball of the season?

“Just because I just had a 100-yard game, I’m playing my best football, I’m not going to sit here and say that,’’ Murray said. “I just feel that’s what I’m capable of doing each week, and if I’m not doing that, then I think I’ll fall short of what I can do for this team.’’

Murray will aim for another 100-yard outing when Minnesota opens the playoffs on Jan. 14 at U.S. Bank Stadium in the divisional round. The Vikings might go into the game expecting Murray to again be the primary ball carrier.

After Cook went down, Murray initially shared the load with Jerick McKinnon. Over the past three games, though, McKinnon has had just 28 rushing attempts, less than half as many as Murray.

“He’s done well,’’ Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said of Murray’s recent play. “Our offensive line has blocked well for him. I think the receivers have blocked well. He’s done a nice job hitting the creases.

“When he stays on point with where he’s running, he’s pretty good. When he has bad plays, it’s usually when he tries to do too much or go somewhere he shouldn’t be going.’

When the ball is close to the goal line, Murray hasn’t messed around. He has all eight of his touchdowns in the past 10 games, including three in the last three games.

“He’s definitely picked it up,’’ said wide receiver Jarius Wright. “I think his running style definitely fits to our big physical offensive line in the way they block and get movement. You know, Tay was a little hurt (with the ankle injury). I’m not going to say it took a little while for him to get comfortable, but I think he’s comfortable now.’’

RUDOLPH HONORED

In voting by teammates, tight end Kyle Rudolph was selected Thursday as the Vikings’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

Since 1984, the award has gone to one player on each NFL team who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.

Rudolph recently was named the Vikings Community Man of the Year after opening Kyle Rudolph’s End Zone at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, a place for patients to relax.

COORDINATORS INTERVIEW

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Former star RB Robert Smith a Fox analyst for first time at a Vikings game Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and defensive coordinator George Edwards had their first interviews Thursday for head coaching positions. Shurmur spoke with the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals and Edwards with the Chicago Bears.

Shurmur will interview Friday with the Bears and on Saturday with the New York Giants. All the interviews are taking place in the Twin Cities.