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Kyler Murray Out With Concussion for Vikings vs. Bears
Confirmed
In Short: Kyler Murray will not play for the Vikings against the Bears due to a concussion.
Kyler Murray will not play for the Minnesota Vikings in their Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears due to a concussion suffered during the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Murray remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol and will not be cleared in time for Sunday’s game.
Murray was hit by Packers defenders Lukas Van Ness and Javon Bullard during a scramble in the first quarter, leading to his exit from the game.
O’Connell emphasized that the medical staff will guide the process, evaluating Murray one step at a time.
The Vikings had hoped Murray would stabilize the quarterback position after he won the starting job in training camp.
Murray returned to practice on Wednesday on a limited basis, but the team is taking a cautious approach.
Carson Wentz, who stepped in for Murray against the Packers, will start for the Vikings against the Bears.
The Vikings are now preparing a game plan tailored for Wentz, giving the Bears an advantage in studying a familiar quarterback.
While Murray’s status was uncertain throughout the week, the team’s decision to rule him out was made based on medical evaluations.
The Vikings will face the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday, with Wentz leading the offense.
What this adds
The Vikings’ cautious approach with Murray’s concussion protocol is consistent with NFL guidelines to prioritize player safety.
The team’s decision to rule out Murray was made after evaluating his progress throughout the week.
The Bears will have a clearer game plan against Wentz, who has played extensively in the NFL, compared to the more unknown Murray.
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.
- Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced on Friday afternoon that Wentz will start at quarterback for the team's Week 2 road matchup against the Chicago Bears (Sunday at 1 p.m.
- 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.
- ET on FOX), as Kyler Murray continues to recover from a concussion.
- Wentz stepped in for Murray in the first quarter of Minnesota's Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers after Murray took a pair of hits to the head area.
- After trailing 22-10 with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings went on a 29-0 run to win the game, 39-22.
- The Vikings are the sixth team the 33-year-old Wentz, the No.
- With that being said, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell refused to rule Murray out for week 2 when he spoke with reporters Wednesday after practice, of which Kyler was a limited participant.
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.
- 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.
- With Murray exiting in the first quarter, Wentz played the majority of snaps (83%) for the Vikings against the Packers, completing 12 of his 19 passes for 133 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers and delivering a poised fourth-quarter comeback.
- The Vikings will trot out the same quarterback who helped them rally to victory over the Packers in front of their home crowd in Week 1, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for Dennis Allen and the Bears defense from a game-planning perspective.
- Thursday morning Rapoport told Good Morning Football (NFL Network) that, given where Murray stands currently in concussion protocol, he “at least has a chance” to play this weekend, should he continue to progress at the pace he currently is.
- Related: Vikings Shuffle Running Back Room; Mason to IR At least for now, though, it’s starting to feel like most of the doubt over K1’s chances to play against the Bears is built from historical trends, not what doctors and trainers are seeing this week from Murray himself.
- It was one of the scarier moments in recent Vikings history last weekend, when on Minnesota’s 11th offensive play from scrimmage, Murray went into the “fencing posture” after he was knocked out by the right shoulder pad of Packers’ defensive back, Javon Bullard.
- Historically, players who have locked up after hits to the head like Kyler did just days ago, do not make it out of concussion protocol in time to play the next week.