Justin Jefferson reacts to Kyler Murray reclaiming Vikings' starting QB job

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Justin Jefferson reacts to Kyler Murray reclaiming Vikings' starting QB job

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Sep 24, 2026 9:04 AM ET

Kyler Murray cleared the concussion protocol and will make his second start for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Tampa Bay, two weeks after his debut ended on his 11th snap. Justin Jefferson weighed in on his return.

"Yeah, looking forward to it. Obviously what we built throughout training camp, throughout the offseason, leading into the season, that definitely has been exciting and something that we've all been waiting for," Jefferson told reporters on Wednesday. "So the time was limited, the first game. So for him to be back out there, for us to get back started with him, it's going to be a joy to see."

Murray completed 3 of 5 passes for 18 yards with an interception against the Green Bay Packers before a hit on a slide knocked him out with the first documented concussion of his career.

He signed this spring after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played five games last year. He logged three limited practices last week before Minnesota ruled him out against Chicago.

#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson says it’s going to be a “joy to see” Kyler Murray return to action on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/KaLhUromqm
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) September 23, 2026

Why some Vikings fans still want to see Carson Wentz start more games

Carson Wentz went 2-0 in relief, completing 23 of 39 passes for 276 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and Jefferson caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns from him in the 39-22 opening win over Green Bay. That run left some fans preferring Wentz when Kevin O'Connell named Murray the starter on Monday.

In the 9-3 win in the rain at Soldier Field, the offense managed 246 yards and went 3-of-13 on third down, and Wentz took three sacks and fumbled once.

O'Connell held up Wentz as the model for Murray's return in his Monday news conference.

"Carson wasn't doing crazy things," O'Connell said. "He was just protecting the football, making good decisions, making some big-time throws when he could and running the show."

What can Murray change for Jefferson in Tampa?

Jefferson's two touchdowns in the opener matched his total for all of 2025, a season in which he still posted 1,048 receiving yards.

The Buccaneers enter Sunday 0-2 after losses at Cincinnati and at home to Cleveland, and their defense ranks 22nd in passing yards allowed and 24th in points allowed.

For Jefferson, Sunday is the first real look at what he and Murray built through training camp, with more than 11 snaps to work with, against a secondary that has given up yards over two weeks.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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