Kenneth

Murray

Another first-round Chargers bust, Murray had his fifth-year team option declined last spring before going on to have a shaky 2023, albeit one where he played every snap. Headed into his age-26 campaign, Murray can at least absorb snaps for a Titans defense undergoing a ton of transition this offseason. Murray could have trouble remaining a three-down player if he doesn’t soon improve against the run.

An ankle that required offseason surgery sapped Murray’s 2021 season and he didn’t start playing better until down the stretch in 2022. It was an easy option to decline for the Chargers. Murray could still re-establish himself as a potential starter somewhere with a better 2023 season.

Murray has been brutal in his first three seasons, but did look a little better late in the season as he got further away from an offseason ankle injury. It makes sense that the Chargers wouldn’t guarantee him future money at this point. Sports Info Solutions charted him with 20 missed tackles last season -- that number probably needs to go into the lower double-digits if he wants to make a case to get a real contract in free agency following next season.

Murray began training camp on the PUP list, so he has been watching from the sidelines thus far. Murray’s return means he will be activated from the PUP list once transactions are made official. Though this is a good sign for his health, it’s no guarantee that he will be ready for Week 1. Murray missed over a month of the 2021 season because of an ankle injury. He would eventually go under the knife in the offseason to fix the issue for good. Murray totaled 31 combined tackles and a pair of TFLs in his 11 appearances last year.

Murray had ankle surgery early in the offseason and did absolutely nothing in OTAs or minicamp. He’s likely truly questionable for Week 1 at this point. Troy Reeder and Drue Tranquill could be the starting tandem if Murray isn’t able to get cleared before the season. Murray is coming off a disappointing 2021 season and really could have used an impressive training camp to get into Brandon Staley’s good graces.

It sounds like Murray will be questionable for training camp after undergoing ankle surgery. He may be a candidate for the PUP list. Through his first two NFL seasons, Murray has struggled badly. In his defense, he was asked to play as an EDGE player at times last year, but this is beginning to look like a first-round bust. Murray’s PFF run defense grade fell to 43.3 in 2021.

The 2020 first-rounder must have tried rest and recovery before opting to go under the knife at this later stage of the offseason. Murray has yet to make much of a professional impact, struggling as a rookie before injuries limited him to 11 games in 2021. This is not going to help matters.

Murray missed Week 17 while on the list. The Chargers face the Raiders in a winner-take-all game to see who will secure a wild card bid in the AFC this week. Murray was playing a reduced role before being added to the COVID list. He will likely return to a similar gig in his first game back from COVID.

Offensive tackle Storm Norton was also added to the list. Murray rolled his ankle early in the year and has returned to a rotational role in the past six games. He has seven combined tackles and one TFL in that span. Norton is the Chargers’ starting right tackle.

Murray hasn’t played since initially rolling his ankle in practice ahead of Week 3. He had started all 19 games since being drafted as Los Angeles’ No. 23 overall pick in 2020 prior to injury. Joey Bosa also remains probable to suit up despite being listed as questionable.