Buffalo Bills: Key takeaways from first week of training camp

Trent Murphy could be difference maker for 2019

Last year was a lost season for Trent Murphy as the defensive end looked like he was still trying to work his way back from injury that costed him all of 2017. He finished last year with 14 solo tackles and four sacks in 13 games.

This training camp though, Murphy has looked like a different player and has the coaching staff and the players around him excited about what he can bring to this defense. Earlier this week, Lorenzo Alexander and Sean McDermott talked about Murphy and how he has come into camp looking different physically and mentally. McDermott said:

"“He just looks like he’s in a different mental space,” McDermott said. “Another year removed from where he was last year when we first got him here and there’s a lot that goes into that. … Just what I’ve observed is he’s obviously worked his butt off before he came back here, and he’s worked his butt off since he’s been back. You watch him from a leadership standpoint, leading in his own way probably different than others but effective nonetheless."

If Murphy is able to put together a full 16-game season and produce at a level he has shown with the Washington Redskins, the Bills defensive end position with him, Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson is going to be tough for opposing offensive tackles to contain.