Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy could have a delayed start to his 2017 season. The fourth-year edge defender is facing a four-game ban for the use of performance-enhancing substances, Master Tefatsion of the Washington Post reports. Murphy has appealed the suspension, per Tefatsion.
Murphy operated as a valuable off-the-bench rotational presence for the Redskins in 2016, playing behind Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. This suspension standing and depriving Murphy of his September slate would be a rough start to what stands to be his contract year. Washington acquired the pass-rusher in the second round of the 2014 draft.
Since, Murphy has started 23 games, with his primary audition season occurring in 2015. Murphy started 15 games for the NFC East champions that season, vaulting into the lineup after Junior Galette suffered the first of his summer season-ending injuries. However, as a bench presence, Murphy shined, registering nine sacks last season. Only Kerrigan’s 11 outpaced that total. Going into 2016, Murphy had just six career sacks.
He did so after initially gaining weight to move to defensive end, but when Galette tore his Achilles’ tendon for a second time in two years, Washington moved Murphy back to outside linebacker. After shedding the excess weight, he became one of Washington’s best pass-rushers. Now, the team could have issues at outside ‘backer, given Galette’s injury history and this prospective suspension.