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49ers film room: Wide receiver Louis Murphy

By Chris Wilson

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Louis Murphy #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries for 54 yards but receives a penalty for holding onto the face mask of Chris Conte #47 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 23, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Louis Murphy #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers carries for 54 yards but receives a penalty for holding onto the face mask of Chris Conte #47 of the Chicago Bears in the second quarter at Soldier Field on November 23, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 23: Receiver Louis Murphy #18 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs after a catch during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears on November 23, 2014 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 21-13. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images) /

Inside splits with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prior to the 2015 season, the Buccaneers signed Murphy to a three-year contract extension, to play as the third wide receiver behind Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. Unfortunately, Murphy’s October ACL injury proved to be the end of his tenure with the team, as he was waived while recovering from his injury in late 2016.

LOUIS MURPHY – TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Year Tm G GS Tgt Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Ctch% Rush Yds TD Lng Y/A YScm
2014 TAM 11 3 56 31 380 12.3 2 54 2.8 34.5 55.4% 380
2015 TAM 6 1 18 10 198 19.8 0 54 1.7 33.0 55.6% 198
2 yr TAM 17 4 74 41 578 14.1 2 54 2.4 34.0 578

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com

With the deep safeties split, the middle of the field is wide open for the speedy Murphy:

The safety is closing in, but Murphy makes the catch and avoids a big hit:

Nice move to the inside, then after Murphy goes to the ground to catch the pass, he gets up and fights for extra yardage:

Murphy runs through defenders and turns a 5-yard pass into a big gain:

Murphy shows off his open-field moves and his tough running style in this catch-and-run for a first down:

Murphy finds the hole in the zone and then turns upfield for additional yardage before sustaining the unfortunate injury to his knee:

Next: 49ers film room: WR Aldrick Robinson

Louis Murphy is a tough receiver who would add height to a short Niners receiving corps. Will the 49ers decide to go with the seasoned veteran Murphy, or a younger, shorter talent with a potentially brighter future? Murphy needs to get onto the field early this preseason to show the coaching staff that he’s over his 2015 injury and is ready to contribute in 2017.