Patriots Strengthen Defense by Claiming Linebacker from Waivers to Complete Roster
The New England Patriots have enhanced their roster by claiming linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers. This move comes after a few weeks of maintaining an open spot on their 53-man roster.
Details of the Claim
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Murphy, who is 25 years old, was signed from the Los Angeles Chargers. He previously had a remarkable college career at Ferris State, where he set the NCAA all-level single-season sack record with 25.5 sacks in just 15 games. Ferris State also won the Division-II National Championship during his senior season.
Professional Journey
- Murphy entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
- He was initially signed by the Tennessee Titans, coached by current Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.
- After 1.5 years with the Titans, Murphy primarily played on special teams before being waived in October 2022.
- He then joined the Los Angeles Chargers until his recent waiver.
Performance Overview
During this season with the Chargers, Murphy played 34% of the defensive snaps in his first six games. He accumulated:
- 129 defensive snaps
- Six pressures
- 0.5 sacks
This marked a significant increase in his playing time, as he only logged 35 total defensive snaps in his first two NFL seasons.
Role with the Patriots
Murphy’s addition will provide much-needed depth to the Patriots’ edge group, which has faced injury challenges this year. He is expected to contribute on special teams as well.
With Caleb Murphy now in the fold, the Patriots’ active roster and practice squad are both full, eliminating the need for any corresponding moves to add him.
