Written by Master Tesfatsion At Washington Post.com
Washington Redskins outside linebacker Trent Murphy is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancement drugs, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. The suspension is currently being appealed by Murphy. If upheld, he would miss the first four games of the 2017 NFL season.
Redskins senior vice president of communications Tony Wyllie declined comment Sunday evening and deferred to the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The NFL also declined and the players’ union did not respond to an email request.
Murphy, 26, had a breakout season in 2016, recording a career-high nine sacks and three forced fumbles in 16 games, as part of a three-man pass rushing rotation for Washington with Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith. He had recorded six sacks and three forced fumbles in 31 games during his first two seasons with the Redskins.
Selected in the second round out of Stanford in 2014 during a draft in which the Redskins did not have a first round pick, Murphy hadn’t lived up to expectations during the start of his career as an outside linebacker. He was effective against the run but struggled as a pass rusher, finishing with just 3.5 sacks in 14 starts during the 2015 season.
The Redskins decided to switch him to defensive end at the start of last offseason ahead of his third season. Murphy gained nearly 30 pounds as part of the adjustment to his new role during offseason practices. The team lacked depth at outside linebacker, however, after Junior Galette tore his Achilles’ tendon for the second straight year and was placed on the non-football injury list before the team reported to Richmond. With a roster relying mainly on Kerrigan and Smith at the position, the Redskins decided to switch Murphy back to outside linebacker during training camp.
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