The Minnesota Vikings ruled out quarterback Kyler Murray for Sunday’s game at Chicago, leaving Carson Wentz to start against the Bears as Murray remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
“Vikings ruled out QB Kyler Murray for Sunday’s game vs. the Bears. Vikings QB Carson Wentz starts,” ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Friday.
The assignment sends the 1-0 Vikings to Soldier Field for a 1 p.m. EDT NFC North matchup with the 1-0 Bears. A start would be the 100th of Wentz’s 11-year career.
Murray, 29, was injured in the first quarter of his Minnesota debut last Sunday against Green Bay. On the Vikings’ third possession, he scrambled on third-and-7 and was hit by Packers edge rusher Lukas Van Ness and safety Javon Bullard as he went to the ground.
Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Murray’s helmet was knocked loose on the play. He went straight to the locker room and was ruled out before the first quarter ended.
Murray completed three of five passes for 18 yards with an interception and ran twice for nine yards before exiting. The former No. 1 overall pick signed a one-year contract with Minnesota in March after seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game that Murray was conscious when staff reached him.
“By the time I got out there, he was totally conscious and talking,” O’Connell said. “I did just see him, and he seemed to be doing pretty well. But once again, I wouldn’t medically quote me on that.”
O’Connell later called the collision “a violent, physical play” but not a dirty one.
“As fast as those things happen, it would be one thing if there was a head-first slide and a clear declaration, but I don’t put any fault on anybody there,” he said.
Murray practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday and was present Friday, but he did not receive the independent medical clearance required to play. O’Connell had identified Friday as a key checkpoint.
“He’s gotta be medically cleared before we even have the conversation about playing in a game,” he said earlier in the week.
Wentz, 33, replaced Murray and directed a 39-22 victory. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Minnesota trailed 22-10 late in the third quarter before scoring the final 29 points.
Two of those touchdowns went to Justin Jefferson, covering 39 and nine yards. Tight end T.J. Hockenson caught a 16-yard score. Jefferson finished with eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, his first multi-score game since Week 16 of the 2024 season.
“Football is a funny game,” Wentz said after the win. “Things can change fast.”
The Bears opened the season with a 59-37 victory over Carolina, the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history with 96 combined points. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards and two more scores. Chicago also allowed 361 passing yards in that game.
J.J. McCarthy, the 2024 first-round pick who was passed by Wentz on the depth chart before Week 1, is expected to serve as the No. 2 quarterback Sunday. Team officials have indicated Murray remains the starter once he is fully cleared.
