Seahawks Rookie DT briefs Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are hoping their pass rush will wake up in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks. But on the other side of the ball, a Seahawks defender sounds very awake and motivated for Sunday’s dominance.

In front of reporters Thursday, Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II addressed pre-draft rumors that the Falcons might be interested in drafting him eighth overall. Instead of taking a defensive player, Atlanta selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Meanwhile, Murphy fell to the Seahawks at No. 16 overall.

Murphy apparently remembers the Falcons passing on him in the first round.

“That’s a big loss for them,” Murphy told reporters, via Gregg Ball of The Tacoma News Tribune. “They will feel me on Sunday.”

Murphy missed the last three weeks due to a hamstring injury. With him in the lineup this season, the Seahawks are 3-0.

Bell reported that Murphy returned to the practice field on Monday. The Seahawks started practice earlier than normal before the Falcons because they were playing in Week 6 Thursday night football.

According to Seattle’s official injury report, Murphy was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday. But it certainly sounds like the defensive tackle is preparing to play against the Falcons.

Through three games this season, Murphy has recorded six combined tackles, including one tackle for loss with one quarterback hit and 0.5 sacks. He has an overall player grade of 56.5 from Pro Football Focus.

After Week 2, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler picked Murphy as the rookie who had impressed him the most through two games. At the time, Fowler also hyped Murphy as a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

Only one rookie has ever won the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award: Lawrence Taylor in 1982.

As Murphy prepares to prove the Falcons made a mistake by not drafting him, Atlanta hopes to get its own pass rush going in Week 7. The Falcons are last in the league with 5 sacks.

Veterans Grady Jarrett and Matthew Judon lead the team with 1.5 sacks each.