The Minnesota Vikings will head into Monday Night Football shorthanded on offense, with quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver Jauan Jennings both ruled out for the matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Minnesota is trying to recover after its first loss of the 2026 NFL season, and the injury list only makes the task tougher. Murray and Jennings are two of the players whose absences will shape the team’s approach, and the Vikings are also keeping an eye on their secondary as Week 9 arrives.
The team made its final injury call on Saturday and officially ruled out Murray, Jennings and running back Demond Claiborne.
Murray’s setback traces back to the hamstring strain he picked up in the Vikings’ Week 8 loss to the Detroit Lions. Head coach Kevin O’Connell had already labeled the quarterback week-to-week, and Carson Wentz is expected to step in under center.
That means Wentz will now be the one leading the offense against Buffalo.
Jennings is out as well after dealing with a calf injury, removing another receiving option from Minnesota’s game plan. Claiborne rounds out the group of players unavailable for Monday night, with the running back sidelined by a knee injury.
On the defensive side, the Vikings listed safeties Theo Jackson and Jay Ward as questionable. Jackson is working through a quad injury that forced him out of the Week 8 game against Detroit, while Ward has been managing a knee issue.
Minnesota will host Buffalo at U.S. Bank Stadium, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Bills Face Growing Tackle Concern Ahead Of Monday Night
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For a team trying to keep its offense steady in a prime-time matchup, the tackle situation is the one to watch most closely. The Bills have some movement elsewhere on the report, but the status of their edge protection will loom largest as the week goes on, especially with Minnesota also dealing with a notable injury update of its own. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen And Bills Line Face A Brutal Test In Minnesota
Spencer Brown knows the Bills are walking into one of the leagues toughest defensive environments in Minnesota, where Brian Flores has built a pressure-heavy scheme that forces quarterbacks to process quickly and the offensive line to hold up under constant stress. The Vikings have the NFLs top scoring defense, and their aggressive blitz approach makes this a particularly sharp test for Buffalos protection plan and for Josh Allens ability to stay composed when plays break down around him.
For the Bills, the challenge is not just identifying where the rush is coming from, but surviving long enough to let Allen do what he does best when structure starts to disappear. His mobility gives Buffalo a possible answer to the Vikings pressure, and Browns comments made clear that the line knows how demanding the assignment will be, even before the first snap is taken. [Read more 🡒]
Dalton Kincaid Still Leaves Bills Fans Waiting On One Week 9 Answer
Dalton Kincaid gave the Bills a much better look on Friday, turning in a full practice after being limited earlier in the week. For Buffalo, that is the kind of late-week progress that usually matters most at tight end, especially when the offense is trying to keep its options open heading into Week 9.
The final injury report still leaves a little room for caution, but Kincaids workload trend points in the right direction. Around the league, Jake Ferguson is dealing with a low-ankle sprain in Dallas and Hunter Henry remains in question for New England with a foot injury, a reminder that the tight end spot can swing quickly from day to day. For the Bills, the only thing left now is the last bit of confirmation. [Read more 🡒]
