Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray began the week inside the NFL concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain as the team prepares for an upcoming road matchup. Murray sustained the head injury during his debut appearance with Minnesota, an 11-play stint that was cut short in the first quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell addressed reporters on Monday, noting that Murray arrived at team headquarters feeling relatively well. However, the coaching staff and medical personnel deemed it far too early to determine whether the quarterback could clear the protocol in time for Sunday’s game in Chicago.
“We’ll defer to the medical folks and that protocol for how the week goes,” O’Connell said. “We’ll just take it a day at a time.”
The Hit That Triggered the Protocol
The injury occurred late in a third-down run when Murray ducked toward the turf to avoid impending contact. Green Bay safety Javon Bullard lowered his shoulder and delivered a hard blow to the right side of Murray’s helmet. The play resulted in an immediate penalty for unnecessary roughness against Bullard.
Murray managed to walk off the field slowly under his own power before being evaluated and subsequently shut down for the remainder of the contest. Despite the abrupt end to his debut, Murray stayed engaged by participating in team meetings and reviewing video footage of the Green Bay game on Monday.
Carson Wentz Stepped Up in Relief
With Murray sidelined, Carson Wentz took over under center for the remainder of the afternoon. Wentz engineered a dramatic comeback victory, steering the offense as the Vikings scored the last 29 points of the game to secure the win.
The team faces a looming decision regarding how long they will wait for Murray to navigate the league-mandated concussion stages before naming a starter for Sunday. Because NFL quarterbacks regularly wear red non-contact jerseys during practice sessions, Murray could theoretically log significant repetition in team drills even before receiving full clearance.
History of Injuries and Next Steps
The health status of the veteran signal-caller draws heightened scrutiny given his recent medical history. Murray had three of his previous four seasons with Arizona cut short by major lower-body injuries, including a torn ACL in late 2022 and a mid-foot sprain during the 2025 campaign.
For now, the Vikings plan to evaluate the quarterback’s progress on a daily basis. “We’ll just see how he’s doing and take it a day at a time and make that determination when the time comes,” O’Connell stated.
The Vikings return to practice ahead of Sunday’s kickoff in Chicago, where medical evaluations later in the week will dictate whether Murray or Wentz takes the first snap.
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