Kyler Murray is back in the Vikings’ starting lineup, and Carson Wentz is sliding back into the backup role.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday that Murray has cleared concussion protocol and is set to start Week 3 against the 0-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 27. That update matched a Monday report that pointed to Murray reclaiming the QB1 job if he got through the protocol this week.
"Kyler has cleared the final phase of the protocol," O'Connell said on Monday. "He’s doing great, he’ll be cleared, and he will start this week against Tampa Bay."
Murray’s last action came in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13, when he completed three of five passes for 18 yards and an interception before leaving the game. Wentz stepped in and delivered a strong relief performance, going 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-22 Vikings win.
But Wentz had a much tougher outing against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Minnesota still came away with a 9-3 win to move to 2-0, but Wentz finished 11 of 20 for 143 yards at Soldier Field and didn’t lead a touchdown drive. Will Reichard handled the scoring for the Vikings, making all three field-goal attempts in rough weather.
Murray’s return puts the spotlight back on a quarterback with a checkered injury history, and it leaves open the possibility that Wentz could be called on again later. Minnesota also signed Murray to a league-minimum deal in the offseason, which means O’Connell has no financial incentive to keep him in the lineup if things go sideways.
For now, though, Murray is the guy again. DraftKings Sportsbook had Minnesota as a 2.5-point road favorite over the winless Buccaneers after O’Connell’s update.
It’s still unclear whether Murray will remain the starter for the Vikings’ Week 4 home matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 4.
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What stands out most is how familiar the issues already look. Tampa Bays offensive line had trouble holding up, and the red zone offense again failed to finish drives, two problems that can quickly turn a competitive team into one chasing games instead of controlling them. For a group that still expects to contend, the early warning signs are getting hard to overlook. [Read more 🡒]