Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy missed practice on Wednesday due to a lingering knee injury. According to head coach Sean McDermott, Murphy is still week-to-week, which is the same designation that he had following the Indianapolis game in Week 7 when he suffered the injury. The fifth-year veteran, who missed Monday night's loss to the Patriots, is a key piece to an underrated defense. If Murphy is unable to go once again, expect defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander to move outside to his spot and Jordan Phillips to be inserted into the starting lineup along the line once again. The Bills defense is an interesting streaming option against the Bears in Week 9, regardless of whether Murphy plays or not.
Nagging Groin Injury Still an Issue For Trent Murphy
Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy's playing time will be put on hold with what head coach Sean McDermott is calling "a nagging groin injury." This will give 2016 first-round pick Shaq Lawson a taste of a starting role for an undetermined amount of time. This all stems from a torn ACL that has been a recurring problem for Murphy in training camp. Just recently in the offseason, Murphy signed a three-year deal worth $22.5 million. Of his five seasons of play in the NFL, Murphy had a very productive 2016 with the Washington Redskins, registering 47 tackles and nine sacks. The Bills have high hopes for Murphy. Last season as a team they only had 27 sacks. If Murphy is held up too long with the injury, the Bills should still be in good hands with the ever-improving Lawson, as he has shown great quickness and tenacity in the 10 games he started in 2017 as well as early on in training camp.
The Buffalo Bills are signing free-agent pass-rusher Trent Murphy to a three-year, $21 million deal on Wednesday, according to a source. Murphy missed all of last year with two torn ligaments in his knee and also served a four-game performance-enhancing drug suspension, but he's just one year removed from a nine-sack season with Washington. He should compete for a spot on the edge rushing the passer in Buffalo in 2018.
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