The Minnesota Vikings have made their call at quarterback for Sunday’s matchup with the Bears: Kyler Murray is out, and Carson Wentz is getting the start.
Murray left the season opener against the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter with a concussion, and the team is now moving forward without him. ESPN and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Vikings have ruled Murray out.
That hands the job to Wentz, who delivered a sharp performance in the Vikings’ 39-22 win over Green Bay. He finished 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns, helping fuel the comeback victory.
J.J. McCarthy is expected to serve as Wentz’s backup if needed.
After the game, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell made it clear he wasn’t surprised by what Wentz brought to the field.
"That's why he's here," O'Connell said. "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."
The move also adds another entry to a familiar Vikings storyline. According to ESPN, this is the 11th time during O'Connell’s tenure that Minnesota has changed starting quarterbacks in the middle of a season.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN noted that many of those changes came because of injuries, including those to Week 1 starters Kirk Cousins in 2023 and J.J. McCarthy in 2025.
Now the Vikings head into a divisional showdown with one quarterback sidelined, another stepping in after a strong opener, and a familiar sense of quarterback turnover hanging over the week.
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