Story by
Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
Cincinnati Bengals: Murphy building off strong finish to 2025
- Story byJournal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
- Cincinnati Bengals: Murphy building off strong finish to 2025
CINCINNATI — Myles Murphy might have been the least discussed part of the Cincinnati Bengals ' defensive line going into this season as the lone carryover to the starting lineup, but he is probably the one with the most pressure.
While new defensive tackles Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen and former Seattle edge rusher Boye Mafe soaked up a lot of the attention this preseason, Murphy quietly was setting himself up for what could be a big year.
Advertisement
Murphy, the team's 2023 first-round draft pick, is in a contract season after the Bengals declined his fifth-year option. It's a prove-it year after recording 5.5 sacks in 2025, and Murphy is off to a flashy start after getting his first half-sack and a forced fumble in the opener.
The Bengals now face C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans on Sunday, Sept. 20, looking to improve to 2-0 and show the defensive successes of Week 1 were no fluke.
"It's always good to just be out there, just put on a performance as a unit," Murphy said. "Honestly, all of us being able to just go out there and know our keys, know how we play it individually and as a unit. So it was good to just put that on display and now we've gotta go do it again."
After recording three sacks as a rookie, Murphy went all of 2024 without even a half sack, but he finished the 2025 season strong with 3.0 of his 5.5 sacks coming in the final four games.
Advertisement
That wasn't enough to convince Cincinnati to exercise his option for 2027, but building off last season would certainly command a nice new contract somewhere. Murphy said he understood the Bengals' decision. If that provided any added motivation, he isn't letting on to that, but he can show it with his play.
On Sunday against Tampa Bay, Murphy stood out early. He finished off a sack on Baker Mayfield to set up Demetrius Knight 's fumble return for a touchdown, which put the Bengals up 7-3 in the first quarter and gave them a lead they wouldn't lose.
"It's always a good feeling to start early with a sack, but there's lots of things I can improve on, definitely," Murphy said. "First game, long season, and I'll just continue to try to keep stacking pennies."
Pro Football Focus gave Murphy just a 37.4 run defense grade Sunday in 10 snaps against the run, but he graded high in tackling and above average in pressure and coverage.
Advertisement
Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden liked how Murphy was going after the ball.
"He's trying to disrupt the football and seeing the ball better, but there's no doubt, he came," Golden said. "We dropped him (in coverage), and he came out like he's supposed to and did a nice job of forcing it on the scramble, and then, of course, his sack — he was relentless on that one.
"The other one, you know, (Carter) Barrett's caused fumble into the end zone, he's right there, and he's tomahawking from behind as well, so he actually laid on Baker. But that was a great effort play too that if (Mayfield) does avoid Barrett, he's going to be right there for it too."
This week brings a new challenge with Stroud and running backs David Montgomery and Woody Marks , who combined for 102 yards rushing last week against the Bills. Montgomery, a Mount Healthy High School product, had 60 of those and two touchdowns.
Advertisement
Stroud can stay calm in the pocket and move away from pressure, but he took three sacks in the opening loss to Buffalo.
"Very complex in the run game, lots of motions pre-snaps, so I mean, really, you got to hone in on your key," Murphy said. "The O-line is gonna run off the ball, really try to move you off the ball, so just got to stay stout. And you know, when it comes to the third down, just get after the quarterback."
Both teams' defensive lines are a strength going into this one, and Cincinnati could be getting another piece to their edge rotation back if Shemar Stewart checks all the boxes to show he's ready after missing all of training camp because of a Day 1 hyperextended knee injury but practicing in full for a second week.
The Bengals had four sacks and forced four turnovers last week but had to fend off the Bucs in the fourth quarter for a 33-27 win. They seek continued improvement against an AFC opponent that will likely be in the playoff picture at the end of the season.
Advertisement
"That's just off-season work showing up," Murphy said of the good start for the defensive line.
"Honestly, that's not that's not just like an overnight thing. That's not a one-month thing. That's a testament to the work that the guys have put in individually over the entire offseason and during all of camp, to hone in on the playbook and knowing what they got to do so they can play fast, and we want that to show every week."
