Vikings’ Kyler Murray Hit With Concerning News After Injury

Kyler Murray’s first start in a Minnesota Vikings uniform lasted just a handful of snaps Sunday before a violent collision sent him to the locker room with a concussion, thrusting veteran Carson Wentz into a familiar role and raising immediate questions about who will take the snaps next week.

Murray scrambled on third-and-seven during the Vikings’ third possession against the Green Bay Packers. Packers edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard arrived at the same time. Van Ness knocked Murray’s helmet loose from behind. Bullard delivered a forearm and shoulder to the head as the quarterback went down.

Teammates motioned for trainers right away. Green Bay was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Murray walked off under his own power but skipped the medical tent and headed straight inside.

The Vikings ruled him out for the rest of the afternoon and placed him in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He finished three of five for 18 yards and an interception. Minnesota’s first two series with him at quarterback produced little: a pick on his opening throw and a pair of false starts that stalled the second drive.

Wentz entered and finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He posted a 123.5 passer rating, took three sacks and helped the offense score 22 points in the fourth quarter. Minnesota closed the game with 29 unanswered points and won 39-22.

The Packers led 22-10 late in the third quarter. Wentz found tight end T.J. Hockenson for a 16-yard score. After Green Bay turned the ball over on downs, the Vikings used a series of Packers penalties to keep a drive alive, took the lead on a two-point conversion to Justin Jefferson, then piled on after a sack-fumble and an interception by Jordan Love. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason added rushing touchdowns.

“That’s why he’s here,” Kevin O’Connell said about Wentz. “For him to come in and do what he did and just be part of that calming presence that allowed our team to continue playing, I can’t say enough about him.”

O’Connell described the hit on Murray as a “violent, physical play” but said he did not fault the Packers.

“It would be one thing if there was a headfirst slide and a clear declaration,” he said. “But I don’t put any fault on anybody there.”

Murray attended meetings Monday and was described as feeling “pretty good.” O’Connell said the team will take the quarterback’s status day by day heading into Sunday’s game at Chicago. If Murray cannot clear the protocol, Wentz would make his 100th career start.

CBS Sports analyst Leger Douzable suggested the job could stay with Wentz even after Murray is cleared.

“Kyler Murray has missed 29 games over the last five years,” Douzable said. “There’s a good chance even if he comes back, he gets hurt again. I’m just saying, right now, we had never seen that offense have the type of energy it’s had until Carson Wentz was in the game.”

Douzable went further.

“I honestly don’t think [Murray] fits in this offense, to be honest with you,” he added. “Carson Wentz, to me, gives him the best chance, especially because he’s a competent quarterback.”

He pointed to last season, when Wentz started five games for Minnesota while playing through a torn labrum.

“Let’s not forget Carson Wentz was hurt last year,” Douzable said. “He was playing when he shouldn’t even have been playing in some of those games, but they had no other quarterback, so he had to roll out there. If you’re Justin Jefferson and you find that you have a connection with Carson Wentz, and this is the best you’ve looked in the last 16 or 17 games, I don’t know how Kevin O’Connell makes a change if they continue to win.”

Local voice Judd Zulgad of Purple Daily offered a similar read.

“I have to imagine Carson Wentz is going to get the start next Sunday against the Bears in Chicago,” Zulgad said. “How does it play out from there? Who knows at this point. J.J. McCarthy is now the backup quarterback. I have to think Kyler is going to be out for a couple of weeks, and if Carson Wentz plays well, I’m guessing that because Kyler signed a one-year contract, Carson Wentz, if he’s playing well, holds on to the job.”

Murray signed a one-year deal after the Cardinals released him. McCarthy, the 2024 first-round pick, had competed with Murray in camp but dropped to third on the depth chart after an inconsistent preseason and an ankle injury. Wentz, who started five games last year and completed 65.1 percent of his passes, was kept as the experienced insurance policy.

Wentz himself kept the moment in perspective.

“Football is a funny game,” he said. “Things can change fast.”O’Connell called the win one that “will stick with me for a long time.”

Minnesota is 1-0. The quarterback picture, however, already looks a lot more complicated than it did Saturday night.

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