Rookie Byron Murphy II is expected back this week after a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury.
It was no surprise that Byron Murphy II was one of the first defensive players selected in the 2024 draft. What was less expected, however, is that he had to wait for the Seahawks at pick No. 16 to become the second defensive player off the board.
And among the teams drafting ahead of the Seahawks that many draft prognosticators thought might snag Murphy was the Atlanta Falcons, who will host Seattle on Sunday.
Instead, the Falcons drafted University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Murphy had to wait a bit longer to hear his name called, going to Seattle one pick after the Colts made UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu the first defensive player selected in the draft.
Murphy remembers hearing Atlanta mentioned as a possible landing spot, and in his first game back following a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, he would love nothing more than to show the Falcons what they missed out on when they passed on him.
"I did hear that Atlanta was supposed to draft me," he said. "I heard rumors about that, but they passed up on me. That's their fault. That's a big loss for them. They will feel me Sunday."
The Seahawks, who are looking to snap a three-game losing streak, will also hope to feel Murphy's presence after playing without him for three straight games. Murphy didn't put up big numbers in his first three games, recording six tackles, half a sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit, but he was still a force inside, frequently taking on double teams, creating chances for his teammates to make plays.
"I'm used to it," he said. "I was getting double-teamed in college. So, getting double-teamed here, I'm used to it. That isn't anything new to me, but if I'm getting double-teamed, I feel like I'm doing my job. It isn't all about the stats or anything. If I'm getting double-teamed, everybody else is eating. That's all that matters to me."
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde called it "huge" to have Murphy back in the mix, both for what he brings to the table individually, and for how his presence in the rotation helps everyone else from a depth standpoint.
"It's huge," Durde said. "As we're a rotational D-line, taking reps off other guys as well, and giving quality reps to the game is huge. For us it's been hard not to have him—but I think that for him it could be a blessing in disguise. There's not many times a rookie gets to step back in the middle of his rookie year, evaluate the season, look at things and be like, 'Oh, that's what you're talking about.' Because once you're in the middle of it, it's like, everything's moving, but I feel like he's come back and he's on fire."
Murphy hopes his presence can really be felt in the run game, which has been something of a struggle for the Seahawks of late. The Seahawks rank 27th in run defense, allowing 144.7 yards per game, and 28th in yards per carry allowed (5.0), and a lot of that damage was done in the past two weeks, with the Giants rushing for 175 yards and the 49ers rushing for 228 yards.
"I feel I can help out a lot," Murphy said of the run defense. "Me, that's what I do. I'm a force in the run game. Also, the pass (rush) too, but me being there in the run game, I'm going to help out a lot."
For Murphy, missing the past three games was a challenge because it was the first injury to ever keep him off the field, at any level, he said. But it also provided a learning opportunity.
"I'm strong-minded," he said. "I'm all about the team. Also what I learned when I was out, just staying patient, taking it day by day, and being positive. Trying to keep my teammates up and everything."
"The most challenging part was really just going through that whole little phase because I've never been hurt, never had any type of injury. So for me to have an injury at this level for the first time in my career, it was a lot, but I'm happy I went through it. Just a little adversity. Happy I got through it, now I'm here."
And after impressing his coaching staff with his work ethic during training camp and the first few weeks of the regular season, Murphy was able to do to the same in recent weeks despite being unable to practice.
"First time being hurt, full stop, and with Byron, it's like all he does is work," Durde said. "He just literally keeps his head down, doesn't say much and he just works, and he done the same thing. He just put himself to work, he stands there, takes his mental reps, he's coming. You can see off the side, him and the group are connecting way more and he's influencing the group more. But he just works. He kind of just gone on with it and went to work."
