ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- If running back LeSean McCoy cannot play or is limited in the Buffalo Bills' AFC wild-card playoff game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, fans should expect to hear a name unfamiliar to most: Marcus Murphy.
Murphy is expected to start -- or at least play a significant role -- if McCoy's ankle injury keeps him out. Even if McCoy plays, Murphy will almost certainly be part of the offensive game plan alongside veteran running back Mike Tolbert.
A third-year player from Missouri, Murphy is the latest in what has become a revolving door of ball carriers behind McCoy since he was traded to Buffalo in 2015.
Karlos Williams was highly successful in the No. 2 role in 2015, as was Mike Gillislee in 2016. But when the New England Patriots signed Gillislee to a restricted-free-agent offer sheet the Bills did not match last spring, the backup job was expected to shift to Jonathan Williams. Instead, the Bills cut Jonathan Williams before the regular-season opener and turned to Tolbert, a free-agent acquisition.
Tolbert, 32, is a 250-pound bruiser, a vocal locker-room presence and a favorite of first-year coach Sean McDermott. He offers some abilities as a short-yardage back but lacks elusiveness after the catch as a receiver. Tolbert's average of 5.6 yards per catch this season was the worst of his career, and his hamstring injury pushed midseason signing Travaris Cadet into the No. 2 role by mid-November.
Cadet suffered a season-ending ankle injury Dec. 24, which led the promotion of Murphy from the practice squad last week. Murphy and Tolbert split time behind McCoy in Sunday's regular-season finale, with Murphy scampering for a 25-yard run before McCoy was carted off with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Murphy finished with seven carries for 41 yards.
The Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins and later earned their first playoff berth since 1999. Murphy appreciates the opportunity now presented to him.
"It hit me more after the game," he said Wednesday. "Not the fact that I'll be playing, just the fact that I'll be in the playoffs. It's something you grow up dreaming about. I've never been in the playoffs."
Murphy was a 2015 seventh-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, whose scouting report from Ourlads Scouting Services called him "a fearless return specialist and may contribute as a third down back. Elusive in space where he can make something out of nothing."
The Saints agreed, using Murphy on kick and punt returns in 16 games over his first two seasons but rarely using him on offense. Murphy played only one snap on offense in each of his two seasons with the Saints, rushing once as a rookie for no gain. He fumbled three times as a returner, losing one.
The Saints waived Murphy in July, and he spent training camp with the New York Jets before being cut again in September. He spent time on both the Jets' and Indianapolis Colts' practice squads before being signed to Buffalo's practice squad Nov. 6.
Murphy believes he is better than his evaluation of being a niche special-teams contributor.
"I've always been underestimated," he said. "I know I'm a playmaker. I know I can contribute. It's just being in the right place. I know I'm a hard worker. I really pride myself in taking advantage of each opportunity.
"If I get the chance, I just want to come out and show everybody what I have."