Vikings' Byron Murphy: Nabs sixth interception of season
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Murphy registered three tackles (one solo) and one interception in Sunday's 42-21 win over the Falcons.
Murphy was responsible for the Vikings' second interception off former teammate Kirk Cousins on Sunday. Murphy picked off a pass intended for Kyle Pitts midway through the fourth quarter, which led to a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Aaron Jones seven plays later. Murphy is up to 61 tackles (47 solo), one forced fumble and 12 pass defenses (including a career-high six interceptions) across 13 regular-season games.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Records eight stops in win
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Murphy finished with eight tackles (five solo), including two tackles for losses, in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over the Bears.
The slot cornerback also played on 99 percent of the defensive snaps, the eighth game in a row in which he's played on more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps. Murphy has 53 tackles (42 solo), eight pass breakups, including four interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2024.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Nabs another pick in Week 10
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Murphy recorded one solo tackle and one interception in Sunday's 12-7 win over the Jaguars.
Murphy has now nabbed a pick in each of the Vikings' last three games, intercepting Mac Jones in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win. The second-year Viking is currently on pace for his best season in Minnesota, having recorded 40 total tackles and eight passes defended, including four interceptions, through nine appearances this season. He's expected to continue starting alongside Shaquill Griffin and Stephon Gilmore as part of the Vikings' top cornerback trio in Week 11's matchup against the Titans.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Intercepts pass in win
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Murphy recorded four solo tackles and an interception in Sunday's 21-13 win over the Colts.
The cornerback also played on all 49 defensive snaps. Murphy has 39 tackles (33 solo), seven passes defensed, including three interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2024.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Snags pick versus Packers
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Murphy logged seven tackles (five solo), two pass deflections and an interception in the Vikings' 31-29 win Sunday versus the Packers.
Murphy was one of the three Minnesota defenders to intercept Jordan Love during Sunday's victory. The 2019 second-round pick has now recorded 24 tackles (19 solo) and an interception throughout the first four games of the season.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Productive in win
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Murphy tallied nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass defended in Sunday's 28-6 win over the Giants.
Murphy was just shy of notching double-digit tackles for the second time in his career. The Washington product had his 2023 campaign end early due to a Grade 3 MCL sprain, but he showed no ill effects Week 1 in helping hold the Giants' offense to just six points.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Continues to produce in Minnesota
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Murphy recorded 57 total tackles, 13 pass deflections, including three interceptions, and one forced fumble in 14 games with the Vikings during the 2023 regular season.
Murphy was held out of the Vikings' last three games of the year due to a knee issue, but he was easily the team's most productive corner when healthy. In his first season of a two-year, $17.5 million deal that he signed with Minnesota this past offseason, the 26-year-old led the team in both pass deflections and interceptions. Murphy has struggled to stay on the field as of late though, missing 11 games over the past two seasons. Expect the Washington product to continue playing at a high level for the Vikings' defense in a contract-year in 2024.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Still absent from practice Thursday
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Murphy (knee) did not participate at practice Thursday.
With just one practice left before the Vikings' game in Week 18, Murphy still hasn't been able to get back onto the practice field during the week. If he can't manage to participate Friday, he'll probably end up being sidelined Sunday.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Missing Week 17
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Murphy (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday night's game against the Packers, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old cornerback was held out of practice all week after missing the Vikings' Week 16 loss to the Lions, so it's no surprise that he won't play in his second consecutive game Sunday night. With Murphy missing Week 17, expect both Andrew Booth and NaJee Thompson to see increased work in Minnesota's secondary.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Begins week as DNP in walk-through
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Murphy (knee) was listed as a nonparticipant in Wednesday's practice walk-through.
Murphy missed Sunday's Week 16 loss to the Lions, marking his first absence of the season. Though Wednesday's DNP designation is an estimation, it casts uncertainty about the cornerback's ability to return to face Green Bay on Sunday. If Murphy needs to sit out again, Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) and/or Andrew Booth would be in line for an uptick in defensive snaps.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Nursing hamstring injury
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Murphy was estimated as a nonparticipant in Wednesday's practice walk-through due to a hamstring injury.
Murphy missed just one defensive snap during Saturday's loss to the Bengals, so it's uncertain when the hamstring injury popped up or how severe it is. Minnesota held a walk-through Wednesday, thus it should be noted that Murphy's DNP is an estimation. The cornerback has played a near every-down role and hasn't missed a game for the Vikings this season, so it would be a significant blow to the team's defensive game plan if he's unable to suit up against the Lions on Sunday.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Gets another interception Sunday
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Murphy recorded three tackles (three solo) and an interception in Sunday's 27-19 win versus the Saints.
Murphy's interception came on a deep pass over the middle with less than two minutes remaining, sealing the game in favor of Minnesota. It was his second pick in as many weeks and his third of the season. He might not see quite as many reps in pass defense in Week 11 at Denver.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Picks off pass Sunday
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Murphy recorded three tackles (all solo) and an interception in a 31-28 Week 9 win over Atlanta on Sunday.
With the score tied at 21, Murphy picked off Taylor Heinicke near the end of the third quarter to help set up a Minnesota go-ahead field goal. It was Murphy's second interception of the campaign, both of which have come over his past four contests. The veteran cornerback is tied for sixth in the NFL with nine pass defenses on the season.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Good to go Sunday
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Murphy (hip) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at the Panthers.
As Minnesota hoped, Murphy will not have to miss any additional time as he recovers from the hip injury he sustained in Week 3 versus the Chargers. He recorded 10 tackles in that game, and should again see a heavy workload in Week 4.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Still dealing with injury
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Murphy (hip) did not practice Wednesday, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Murphy suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to the Chargers, but he was able to return and finish out the game. Head coach Kevin O'Connell stated that the hope is he'll progress to being ready to play against the Panthers in Week 4. If Murphy is unable to play, rookie Mekhi Blackmon could be pushed into a more significant role.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Posts 10 tackles in Week 3
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Murphy recorded 10 tackles (nine solo) and two passes defensed in Sunday's 28-24 loss versus the Chargers.
Murphy left the contest temporarily after awkwardly colliding with Gerald Everett, but he was able to place second on his squad in tackles anyway. He'll see plenty more work in Week 4, when Minnesota travels to face a pass-dependent Panthers offense.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Makes return
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Murphy (hip) has returned to Sunday's game against the Chargers, Lindsey Young of the Vikings' official site reports.
Murphy suffered the injury after a collision with Gerald Everett. The cornerback then made a visit to the blue tent on the sidelines but ultimately gained clearance to return to the game.
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Vikings' Byron Murphy: Leaves with hip injury
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Murphy (hip) is questionable to come back into Sunday's game against the Chargers, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The cornerback collided with Chargers' tight end Gerald Everett and then entered the blue tent on the sideline, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Murphy started Minnesota's first two games and recorded one pass defended and seven tackles.
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Cardinals' Byron Murphy: Joining Minnesota
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Murphy (back) agreed Tuesday with the Vikings on a two-year, $22 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Murphy was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has spent the the last four seasons there. During that span, he accumulated 223 tackles (178 solo), three sacks, 34 passes defensed and five interceptions. He will now look for a fresh start in Minnesota as one of its starting cornerbacks.
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Cardinals' Byron Murphy: Going to injured reserve
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The Cardinals placed Murphy (back) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Sidelined since Week 10 with a lingering back issue, Murphy now will miss the rest of the campaign with the Cards out of the playoff picture. The 2019 second-round pick thus will finish his fourth season as a pro with 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD) and a half sack in nine appearances. Murphy will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so it remains to be seen where he'll be suiting up next fall.
