Seahawks rookie DT Byron Murphy II officially returns to practice
Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II officially returned to Monday's practice. Murphy had missed three consecutive contests, all defeats, since injuring his hamstring in a Week 3 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Following his return to practice, the expectation is that the rookie interior defender will return for Sunday’s Week 7 contest versus the Atlanta Falcons.
The No. 16 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Murphy has recorded six tackles (one tackle for loss), a half-sack, one quarterback hit, and seven pressures in his three appearances this season, per Pro Football Focus.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald had shown immediate faith in Murphy prior to his injury. Murphy played 40 defensive snaps, accounting for 58% of all Seahawks defensive plays in the Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos, according to The Football Guys. In Week 2, the former Texas standout followed that up with a similar 56% workload.
The Seahawks have been relying on the likes of Jarran Reed, Johnathan Hankins, and Myles Adams more in Murphy's absence. They also recently acquired defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris in a trade, and activated Cameron Young from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Quinton Bohanna has also occasionally received call-ups from the practice squad.
Murphy was playing quality football before suffering the hamstring injury. Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde will be excited to get their first-year contributor back. Murphy could be a difference-maker for a struggling Seahawks defense.
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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks rookie DT Byron Murphy II officially returns to practice
