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Brady Henderson, ESPN
RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive version of Byron Murphy II, who is eager to return Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, said he is 100% healthy and then missed the event for three games due to a concussion. hamstring.
“I don’t doubt it,” Seattle’s first-round pick said Thursday. “I’m confident and I feel great.”
That self-confidence was on display when Murphy was asked about pre-draft rumors linking him to the Falcons. Atlanta preferred to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, clearing the way for Seattle to draft Murphy in Refuse. 16.
“I heard Atlanta was supposed to draft me,” Murphy said. “I heard rumors about that. But they let one go, so it’s their fault. It’s a big loss for them. They’ll feel me on Sunday.”
Murphy said he had never missed a game before getting sick midway through the second quarter of Seattle’s win over the Miami Dolphins in Life 3. He said he felt like he was “playing very well” at the time. time, even assuming his production wasn’t overwhelming: six tackles, one sack for loss and part of a sack in 88 defensive snaps.
Those numbers came with the caveat that he had faced double teams on 79.5% of his pass rush plays. According to TruMedia, that was the best rate for any interior defensive lineman in that span. In games where he injured his hamstring, Murphy was often double-teamed in the running game.
“I was getting double-teamed in college, so being double-teamed here is nothing new to me,” said Murphy, who starred at Texas. “But if I’m double-teaming, I feel like I’m doing my job, so it’s not just about the stats… If I’m double-teaming, everyone else eats. That’s all. That matters to me.”
The Seahawks have missed Murphy’s max in run protection. Over the three games he’s been out, all losses, the defense has given up the fifth-most average yards per carry and the fourth-most average yards per carry.
“That’s what I do: I’m a force in the run game,” Murphy said. “Also the pass. But being there in the running game, I’m going to help a lot.”
