“Gabe’s been a guy that has shown up daily at camp, highlighted in front of the team,” O’Connell said. “It feels like a man on a mission right now in a lot of ways. And I’m just proud of him, proud of where he’s at in camp right now.”
Murphy is behind many Vikings edge rushers on the depth chart — Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner — but he is on track to make the team as a healthy contributor this time.
“Sky’s the limit,” Murphy said. “I’m just going to keep working and see where the chips fall.”
Gabe Murphy was among the Vikings players held out of practice on Monday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan. (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Murphy was among nine players who did not fully participate in Monday’s practice, which was the first since Saturday’s preseason opener.
Also not practicing on Monday: receiver Justin Jefferson, safety Harrison Smith, fullback C.J. Ham, center Ryan Kelly, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez, receiver Rondale Moore and offensive lineman Zeke Correll.
Jefferson missed an 11th consecutive practice due to the left hamstring strain suffered July 24. It’s possible others were held out as a precaution to get ready for two critical sessions to come on Wednesday and Thursday when the New England Patriots arrive for joint practices.