Kyler Murray’s path back from concussion protocol is lining up to give the Vikings a real lift in Week 3, and the betting market has already moved accordingly.
Murray sat out Week 2, but he was able to practice before that game and is now expected to clear protocol early this week, according to Kevin O’Connell. That puts him on track to return Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a development that comes at a good time for Minnesota after it opened the season 2-0 with wins over Green Bay and Chicago while leaning on veteran Carson Wentz.
The change at quarterback has not sunk the Vikings, but it has left some room for improvement. Minnesota has scored enough to win both games, yet the offense ranked 19th in the NFL in EPA/Play through the first two weeks.
Wentz has handled the backup role well enough, tossing three touchdown passes in Week 1 without an interception, but he has only produced 276 passing yards overall. Week 2 was also played in the rain against Chicago, where he finished with 143 yards and a 55.0 percent completion rate.
Oddsmakers have taken notice of Murray’s return outlook. The lookahead line had Tampa Bay favored, but DraftKings Sportsbook now lists Minnesota as a 2.5-point road favorite. That’s a significant swing for a Vikings team that has started 2-0 and could be getting its starting quarterback back right as the schedule tightens.
Murray did throw an interception in his limited Week 1 action, but O’Connell said last week that the former No. 1 overall pick would keep the starting job once healthy. Because Murray practiced in limited fashion last week, he should be able to enter the matchup with the Bucs without an injury designation.
In Other News...
Aaron Jones Gave Vikings Fans One More Reason To Hate That No-Call
The Vikings got what they wanted from a gritty, weather-heavy win over the Bears, with the defense setting the tone and Aaron Jones doing enough on the ground to keep Minnesota moving. Jones carried 23 times for 106 rushing yards, giving the offense a steady source of production in a game where clean footing and clean execution were at a premium.
Jones also delivered one of the more memorable moments late, taking a hard shot that had plenty of people in purple wondering why no flag came out. He brushed off the impact afterward, but his reaction to the no-call only added to the frustration for Vikings fans who had already spent the afternoon navigating a bruising divisional battle. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Got Caught In Foxs Most Infuriating Broadcast Mess
FOX Sports turned Week 2 into a strange viewing exercise before the network got its act together for the nightcap, as audio feeds did not match the games being shown during multiple early NFL telecasts. The mix-up meant viewers were hearing commentary for the wrong game while trying to keep up with the action on the screen, and the confusion only deepened when the scorebug briefly disappeared during overtime of the Packers-Jets matchup.
By the time the primetime window arrived, FOX had resolved the audio problems and moved on to its Cowboys-Commanders broadcast with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. For fans tracking the early slate, especially anyone trying to follow the Packers, it was an unwelcome reminder that even in the middle of an NFL Sunday, the network can still be the most distracting thing on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Left Chicago 2-0 With A Win Fans Will Debate
The Vikings left Soldier Field with a 9-3 win, and it came the hard way. There were no touchdowns to lean on, just field goals, a defense that kept Chicago from finding much rhythm, and two takeaways that helped shape a game more notable for toughness than style. Justin Jefferson also made his mark in the process, moving into second place in franchise history for receptions.
For Minnesota, a result like this is the kind that can still spark argument even in victory. The defense did enough to control the night, but the offense never fully separated itself from a Bears team that made every possession feel like a grind. As the Vikings head home 2-0, the record looks clean, even if the performance leaves plenty for fans to sort through. [Read more 🡒]