Vikings bench Murray for hamstring strain, turn to Wentz
Carson Wentz will start against Buffalo Monday night after Kyler Murray suffered a strain at Detroit.
By Ryan Carter ·
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray will miss at least one game due to a hamstring strain, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced on Thursday. The decision removes the starter from Monday night's matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Carson Wentz will take the field as the starting quarterback, with Max Brosmer listed as the backup. O'Connell stated that Murray's return is a week-to-week decision, with a target date of Nov. 15 for the trip to Green Bay. The team ruled out placing Murray on injured reserve, a move that would mandate a minimum four-game absence.
Murray sustained the injury during a read-option play in the fourth quarter of last week's loss at Detroit. He turned the corner past defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to gain nine yards. The quarterback remained in the game, but reported soreness afterward. An MRI conducted on Monday confirmed the strain. O'Connell declined to specify the severity but emphasized the need for caution to prevent the injury from worsening.
The Vikings have relied on Wentz while Murray has been sidelined this season. The former Eagles and Colts starter threw three touchdown passes in a win over Green Bay. He started the next game against Chicago, completing 23 of 39 passes for 276 yards. He was sacked six times and did not throw an interception during that appearance. Wentz was selected second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. He went 2-3 as the starter last season when J.J. McCarthy was injured.
O'Connell addressed the team's quarterback rotation history directly. The coach sidestepped a question about whether Wentz could retain the starting role if he performs well after Murray is cleared. He expressed strong trust in Wentz's contributions. There is a ton of confidence in Carson, O'Connell said. He has already helped us.
Mobility is a central component of Murray's playing style. O'Connell noted that the quarterback needs to run at full speed to be effective. The coaching staff is wary of sending him out if he cannot achieve that speed. This approach mirrors the team's caution in 2023, when wide receiver Justin Jefferson missed seven games with a hamstring issue.
Quarterback instability has been a recurring theme for the Vikings since 2023. Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon at Green Bay on Oct. 29 of that year. Over the following 52 games, the team has changed its starting quarterback 17 times. This total includes 14 in-season changes and five in-game substitutions due to injury or performance factors. The next scheduled game is against the Bills on Monday.
