The Tampa Police Department has confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network that Tennessee Titans wide receiver Orenthal James Murdock, 25, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday morning. He died at 10:43 a.m. ET.
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The tragic news comes just one day after the Titans placed Murdock on their "did not report" list. Murdock was placed on the "waive/injured" list last August and spent the year on injured reserve. Titans head coach Mike Munchak indicated Murdock was absent from training camp for "personal reasons."
Murdock was found in his car in front of Middleton High School, as the Tampa Bay Times first reported. He was then transported to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition.
The Titans released the following statement Monday:
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of O.J. Murdock’s death this morning. In his brief time here, a number of our players, coaches and staff had grown close to O.J., and this is a difficult time for them. He spent the last year battling back from an Achilles injury as he prepared for this year’s training camp. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they try to cope with this tragedy.”
We send our condolences and thoughts out to Murdock's family.
UPDATE: Titans running back Chris Johnson tweeted his sympathy about Murdock's death.