Kyler Murray will not play for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday against the Chicago Bears after failing to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol, Ian Rapoport said on NFL GameDay.
“Kyler Murray is not going to play today,” Rapoport said. “Did not clear the NFL’s concussion protocol, so he is out.”
Carson Wentz starts in his place for the second straight week.
Rapoport pointed to what could come next if that goes well.
“Carson Wentz, who came on in relief last week and looked really, really good, especially in the fourth quarter, he is going to start, which could, if he continues to play well, if they do win, leave Minnesota with an interesting decision next week,” Rapoport said. “Really a great problem to have.”
He also noted where the Vikings stand on Murray.
“Kyler was their preferred starter in free agency,” Rapoport said. “They are huge fans of him.”
Coach Kevin O’Connell ruled Murray out Friday. He said Murray had shown a lot of progress and that the team fully expected him to clear the protocol early next week.
Murray practiced on a limited basis all week but did not finish every step of the protocol.
His Vikings debut lasted less than a quarter. With 6:16 left in the first quarter against Green Bay, Murray scrambled and was hit by Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard as he went down. Bullard drew an unnecessary roughness penalty. Murray walked to the locker room and did not return.
Wentz took over and led a 39-22 win, completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, beat out J.J. McCarthy for the job in training camp. McCarthy then fell to third on the depth chart and will back up Wentz on Sunday.
Minnesota used three different starting quarterbacks in 2025.
The Vikings are also without receiver Jauan Jennings, who is out for personal reasons, and running back Jordan Mason, who went on injured reserve after surgery on a fractured right thumb. Aaron Jones Sr. leads the backfield.
Chicago is 1-0 after a 59-37 win over Carolina in which the Bears gained 552 yards, including 291 on the ground.
If Murray clears the protocol next week, the Vikings face Tampa Bay on Sept. 27 at 4:05 p.m. ET.
