The Bengals appear to have some luck after avoiding a big harm to their protection.
Former first-round defensive finish Myles Murphy was carted off Tuesday’s joint observe with the Indianapolis Colts with a non-contact harm. NFL Community Insider Mike Garafolo has since reported that “all indications are he averted a severe harm, and sources say he ought to solely miss just a few weeks.”
Garafolo did add that evaluations are nonetheless ongoing, however barring any important findings, Murphy could possibly be again in time for Cincinnati’s Week 1 or 2 sport.
Total, it is good news for the Bengals after dropping defensive finish Cameron Pattern to a season-ending torn Achilles this summer time. Defensive finish Sam Hubbard has been coping with an harm, too.
Nonetheless, it is a powerful break for Murphy, the No. 28 total decide within the 2023 NFL Draft. He hoped to bounce again from his disappointing rookie marketing campaign, which registered simply 20 tackles and three sacks.
“There is a distinction between mix situation and soccer situation,” Murphy said by way of Bengals radio announcer Dan Hoard. “I used to be in nice mix situation final 12 months, however not in good soccer situation. Now I am in actually good soccer situation.”
Murphy’s underwhelming rookie 12 months was on account of enjoying behind edge-rushers Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, who mixed for 101 tackles, 23.5 sacks, three compelled fumbles and two fumble recoveries final 12 months.
Whereas that’s the case once more this season, Murphy will nonetheless be in line for an even bigger workload as the first rotational edge-rusher when he returns. The query that now stays is when that will likely be.
Within the meantime, Cincinnati might want to depend on Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai and Cedric Johnson coming off the sting because the workforce seems to be a Tremendous Bowl contender in 2024.
