Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles coach: Murray upset with carries but no undercutting

Published Dec. 9, 2015 3:51 p.m. ET

foxsports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Eagles coach Chip Kelly says running back DeMarco Murray is unhappy with the carries he got in an upset win of the New England Patriots on Sunday, but didn't undercut anyone by speaking with team owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Kelly rebutted rumors on Wednesday that Murray sought out Lurie, saying the NFL's rushing leader from last season simply sat next to Lurie on the plane ride home from Massachusetts.

''All of our players sit in first class and when Mr. Lurie flies with us, he sits in first class. So they happened to be sitting next to each other,'' Kelly said. ''He did not request a meeting with Mr. Lurie.''

Kelly says he met with Murray and most running backs would be similarly frustrated.

''Every running back wants the ball more. Every wide receiver wants the ball more. Every quarterback wishes he threw the ball more,'' Kelly said. ''

Murray played just 14 snaps and carried the ball just eight times in the game. Murray was not available on Wednesday, but is expected to speak with reporters after practice on Thursday.

''"He only got 14 snaps, but the offense as a whole only got 50 snaps,'' Kelly said. ''The offense was just not on the field a lot.''

Darren Sproles had 15 carries for 66 yards while Kenjon Barner carried nine times for 39 yards.

Murray joined the Eagles this season with a deal worth $40 million over five years, with $21 million guaranteed. Through 12 games, he's carried the ball 163 times for 569 yards, an average of 3.5 yards per carry.

Ryan Mathews, who has missed the past three games with a concussion but is expected to return Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, has 427 yards on 75 carries, an average of 5.7 yards per carry.

After a terrible start to the season - his first two games were a combined 21 carries for 11 yards - Murray seemed to get better and look like the back he was in Dallas last season. He ran for 83 yards in a win over the New Orleans Saints and had 112 in a win against the New York Giants the following week.

Kelly said the Patriots game didn't go as expected for its offense.

''We didn't have the ball in the third quarter. I'm not complaining - we had an interception return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown - so we got 14 points, I'm happy,'' Kelly said.

---

NOTES: Mathews practiced again Wednesday and says he expects to play Sunday against the Bills. .The only Eagles player to sit out Wednesday's practice was defensive tackle Bennie Logan with a sore knee.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL