Bengals' Myles Murphy: Won't have option year picked up
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The Bengals are declining Murphy's fifth-year option for 2027, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Murphy set career-best marks across the board in 2025 with 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, but that wasn't enough to convince Bengals brass to pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. He remains under contract in 2026 on the fourth year of his rookie deal, and Conway adds that the Bengals are still hoping to work out a long-term extension to keep Murphy in Cincinnati despite choosing not to pick up his fifth-year option.
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Bengals' Dexter Lawrence: Gets $28 million extension
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Lawrence and the Bengals agreed to terms on a one-year, $28 million contract extension Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Saturday's trade with the Giants -- which saw the No. 10 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft move to New York -- was finalized Sunday after Lawrence passed his physical, and the extension ensures that the 2019 first-rounder will be under contract with the Bengals through the next three seasons. The Clemson product is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 regular season, when he tallied 31 tackles (14 solo), including 0.5 sacks, all of which were career lows. Lawrence was named to the NFL's All-Pro Second Team in both 2022 and 2023, and if he can return to that level, it would be a massive boost to a Bengals defensive front that also includes Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Two sacks in Week 15 loss
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Murphy registered 2.0 sacks against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in the Bengals' Week 15 loss.
Murphy and the Bengals' defense initially held the line against the Ravens, but eventually the Ravens broke through. Murphy is starting to generate more pressures against opposing QBs despite the absence of Trey Hendrickson (core muscle injury) on the other side of the pass rush.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Fails to record any sacks in 2024
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Murphy finished the 2024 season with 20 tackles (11 solo) and one pass breakup across 13 games with Cincinnati.
Selected No. 28 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Murphy has been a massive disappointment through two seasons with the Bengals. After recording 3.0 sacks in 17 appearances as a rookie, Murphy didn't claim a starting gig off the edge in his second season and failed to take down the quarterback a single time, accruing just four QB hits total across 353 defensive snaps. Murphy needs to take multiple steps forward in 2025. The Bengals are starved for pass rushers behind Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, accounting for over 48 percent of Cincinnati's team total of 36 sacks. Hendrickson is now scheduled to hit free agency in March.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Cleared for season debut
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Murphy (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Murphy was activated from injured reserve Friday following full participation at each practice during Week 5 prep. The 2023 first-round pick recorded 20 tackles and 3.0 sacks as a rookie and is expected to serve as a rotational edge rusher against Baltimore.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Officially off IR
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Murphy (knee) was activated off injured reserve Friday.
The 2023 first-round pick missed the Bengals' first four games this season due to a knee injury, but following Friday's activation, he's got a chance to make his 2024 debut Sunday. Murphy is projected to serve as one of Cincinnati's top rotational edge rushers once he returns to the field.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Opening season on IR
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Murphy (knee) was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return by the Bengals on Tuesday.
Murphy sprained his knee during the Bengals' joint practice with the Colts on Thursday. He'll miss the first four games of the regular-season, and he is eligible to return for Week 5 against Baltimore.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Diagnosed with knee sprain
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Murphy is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks due to a knee injury he sustained during Wednesday's joint practice with the Colts, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
The good news for Murphy and the Bengals is that his knee injury is not of the season-ending variety. However, it likely means that the 2023 first-round pick will miss the beginning of the regular season. Murphy's absence opens the door for Cedric Johnson, Joseph Ossai and Justin Blazek to see more backup reps at defensive end behind starters Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard (knee).
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Getting more snaps
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Murphy played 27 defensive snaps and recorded four tackles, including a sack, in the Bengals' overtime win over the Vikings.
The 2023 first-round pick has been slowly increasing his role with the team, and DJ Reader's quad injury added some urgency to the Bengals' needs. The 27 snaps represented a 40-percent snap share, his highest percentage this season.
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Bengals' Myles Murphy: Lands with Cincinnati at 28
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The Bengals selected Murphy in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 28th overall.
This looks like a steal for Cincinnati. Murphy (6-foot-5, 268 pounds) is big for an edge rusher yet boasts sub-4.6 speed and plus reach, meaning he can play three downs and pose a threat both as a rusher and in run defense. Murphy led Clemson in sacks and tackles for loss going back three years, yet he doesn't turn 22 until January. Murphy's prospect profile is sterling from every angle.
