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Kyler Murray Out With Concussion for Vikings vs. Bears
Confirmed
In Short: Kyler Murray will not play for the Vikings in their Week 2 game against the Bears due to a concussion.
Kyler Murray is out for the Vikings' Week 2 game against the Bears, the team announced, as he remains in the NFL's concussion protocol.
Murray suffered a concussion during the Vikings' season opener against the Green Bay Packers, exiting the game after a hard hit from Packers defender Javon Bullard.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said the medical staff will continue to guide the process, evaluating Murray one step at a time.
The Vikings have several days to determine whether Murray can be cleared for Sunday’s game, but for now, he remains on a limited practice regimen.
Murray’s extensive repetitions with the starting offense before the injury could help the Vikings if he is cleared, but the team is taking a cautious approach.
Carson Wentz, who stepped in for Murray during the first quarter of the Packers game, will start against the Bears.
Wentz completed 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards, three touchdowns, and no turnovers in his first game with the Vikings, leading them to a 39-22 victory.
The Bears will face the same quarterback who helped the Vikings rally in the third quarter of Week 1, potentially giving them a better game-planning advantage.
Wentz's familiarity with the Vikings' offense could provide the Bears with a clearer understanding of how to defend against the team.
The Vikings will play the Bears in Chicago at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
What this adds
The Vikings were hoping Murray would stabilize their quarterback position after he won the starting job in training camp.
Murray's injury forced the Vikings to start Wentz, who has played for five different teams since 2016.
The Bears will not have to wait until game day to find out their opponent's starting quarterback.
Background
Kyler Murray was ruled out with a concussion after a hit from Green Bay's Javon Bullard during the Vikings' Week 1 game.
What's confirmed
- Kyler Murray (concussion) is out for the Vikings ' Week 2 game against the Bears, the team announced.
What's still developing
- But for now, the Vikings are continuing to monitor their starting quarterback period by period and waiting to see how his body responds as he moves through the concussion protocol.
- The Vikings were hoping Murray would stop the quarterback carousel Minnesota unhappily rode last season.
- Murray's much-anticipated Vikings debut ended after less than a quarter, when he got hit by two Packers defenders -- Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard -- during a scramble.
- Bullard was flagged for unnecessary roughness while Murray lay on the ground and got medical attention, and Murray went back to the locker room shortly thereafter.
- Scary scene as Kyler Murray takes a massive hit and stays down after the play.
- The Vikings opened the season with 2024 first-round pick J.J.
- Murray, on a one-year deal, battled McCarthy for the starting job for a few weeks in training camp before winning the job.
- Following five seasons with the Eagles (2016-20), Wentz had one-year stints with the Indianapolis Colts (2021), Washington Commanders (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2023) and Kansas City Chiefs (2024) before joining the Vikings in 2025.
- Now, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is more likely to have a Wentz-tailored game plan in place for their showdown with the Bears, having had a full week to prepare for that outcome, but studying Wentz’ tendencies in specific may just help out Chicago.