Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots have filled the open spot on their 53-man roster. The team of head coach Mike Vrabel claimed outside linebacker Caleb Murphy off waivers following his release by the Los Angeles Chargers over the weekend, as first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
For Murphy, 25, the Patriots will be the third team in three years in the NFL.
Splitting his college career between Grand Valley State and Ferris State, the 6-foot-3, 254-pound defender entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He was initially signed by the Tennessee Titans, who were at that point led by Mike Vrabel, and went on to appear in three games as a rookie.
After seeing most of his action on special teams, he was let go by the organization midway through his sophomore campaign and joined the Chargers shortly thereafter. In total, Murphy saw action in 14 games as a Titan and Charger.
Before being let go on Saturday, Murphy had appeared in all six possible games this season and been on the field for 118 special teams snaps. Besides serving on five special teams units and registering five tackles, he also notched half a sack in 129 snaps on the defensive edge.
Now a Patriot, Murphy is joining an outside linebacker group led by Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson. Keion White, Elijah Ponder and Anfernee Jennings are rounding out the group as rotational pieces behind the two starters.
Fresh off a 31-13 victory over one of Murphy’s former teams, the Titans, the Patriots will stay home in Week 8. The 5-2 team will host the Cleveland Browns at Gillette Stadium for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.
